--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot really play. Either at piano or…" description: "\"“I cannot really play. Either at piano or at life; never, never have I been able to. I have always been too hasty, too impatient; something always inte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/erich-maria-remarque-568_happiness_i-cannot-really-play-either-at-piano-or_605492.jpg" --- # I cannot really play. Either at piano or at life; never… ![“I cannot really play. Either at piano or at life; never, never have I been able to. I have always been too hasty, too impatient; something always intervenes and breaks it up. But who really knows how to play, and if he does know, what good is it to him? Is the great dark less dark for that, are…” quote by Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/erich-maria-remarque-568_happiness_i-cannot-really-play-either-at-piano-or_605492.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/erich-maria-remarque-568_happiness_i-cannot-really-play-either-at-piano-or_605492.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/erich-maria-remarque-568_happiness_i-cannot-really-play-either-at-piano-or_605492.jpg) > ““I cannot really play. Either at piano or at life; never, never have I been able to. I have always been too hasty, too impatient; something always intervenes and breaks it up. But who really knows how to play, and if he does know, what good is it to him? Is the great dark less dark for that, are the unanswerable questions less inscrutable, does the pain of despair at eternal inadequacy burn less fiercely, and can life ever be explained and seized and ridden like a tamed horse or is it always a mighty sail that carries us in the storm and, when we try to seize it, sweep us into the deep? Sometimes there is a hole in me that seems to extend to the center of the earth. What could fill it? Yearning? Dispair? Happiness? What happiness? Fatigue? Resignation? Death? What am I alive for? Yes, for what am I alive?”” [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels trapped by impatience and existential doubt, questioning life's meaning and the possibility of fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Struggle with impatience and existential doubt. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and seek inner peace. Themes existential self-doubt patience Mood melancholic contemplative Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal growth - therapy - creative expression Key Concepts meaning of life inner conflict human condition Questions to Reflect On - What fills the inner void? - Can patience change perception? A Different Perspective Finding answers may not resolve the underlying emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Explained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-explained-520997/) [Pain Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-despair-447527/) [Piano Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-life-1681461/) [Yearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning/) ## Related quotes > [If you look at her or him and think Somethings wrong with them; weirdos? don't be quick to judge someone ;because a paragraph isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayely-saldana/if-you-look-at-her-or-him-and-think-somethings-wrong-with-them/) [Nayely Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayely-saldana/) > [“The fundamental fact about all of us is that we’re alive for a while but will die before long. 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Try to imagine if you'd loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caio-fonseca/i-ve-been-playing-piano-my-whole-life-but-i-d-never-tried-to-2/) [Caio Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caio-fonseca/) > [Keep searchin’ for your mystery note on the universal piano of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahsaan-roland-kirk/keep-searchin-for-your-mystery-note-on-the-universal-piano-of-life/) [Rahsaan Roland Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahsaan-roland-kirk/) > [The melody that the loved one played upon the piano of your life will never be played quite that way again, but we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-l-liebman/the-melody-that-the-loved-one-played-upon-the-piano-of-your-life-will/) [Joshua L. Liebman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-l-liebman/) > [I've been playing piano my whole life but I'd never tried to understand how compositions are made really. Try to imagine if you'd loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caio-fonseca/i-ve-been-playing-piano-my-whole-life-but-i-d-never-tried-to/) [Caio Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caio-fonseca/) > [This is the greatest gift God can give you: to understand what happened in your life. To have it explained. It is the peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/this-is-the-greatest-gift-god-can-give-you-to-understand-what/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“People think of heaven as a paradise garden, a place where they can float on clouds and laze in rivers and mountains. But scenery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/people-think-of-heaven-as-a-paradise-garden-a-place-where-they-can-2/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Okay, said God, You've got a deal. So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves; the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie/okay-said-god-you-ve-got-a-deal-so-that-is-why-the-first-twenty-years/) [Sadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie/) > [But the meaning of life is not . . . explained by one's business life, nor is the deep desire of the human heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/but-the-meaning-of-life-is-not-explained-by-one-s-business-life-nor/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“The Christian life can be explained only in terms of Jesus Christ, and if your life as a Christian can still be explained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas/the-christian-life-can-be-explained-only-in-terms-of-jesus-christ-and/) [Ian Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas/) > [“There are five people you meet in heaven,” the Blue Man suddenly said. “Each of us was in your life for a reason. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/there-are-five-people-you-meet-in-heaven-the-blue-man-suddenly-said/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Many aspects of life cannot be explained through logic or reason. The reasoning part of the mind simply doesn't have the capacity to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/many-aspects-of-life-cannot-be-explained-through-logic-or-reason-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There are many things in life that cannot be explained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/there-are-many-things-in-life-that-cannot-be-explained/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) ## More by Erich Maria Remarque > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom. But the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/the-idea-of-authority-which-they-represented-was-associated-in-our/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It was a long time since I had been in a theatre. And I would not have come now had Pat not wanted it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/it-was-a-long-time-since-i-had-been-in-a-theatre-and-i-would-not-have/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“Besides,” continued Gottfried, “you’re coming now to the time when the difference between a bourgeois and a cavalier begins to show. A bourgeois always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/besides-continued-gottfried-you-re-coming-now-to-the-time-when-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“They are wearing new uniforms and greatcoats; their boots are water-tight and fit well; their rifles are good and their pouches full of ammunition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/they-are-wearing-new-uniforms-and-greatcoats-their-boots-are-water/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“Shortly after the war Valentin had come into a little money, and had been drinking it ever since. He considered it his duty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/shortly-after-the-war-valentin-had-come-into-a-little-money-and-had/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“A man has to have something he can put faith in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/a-man-has-to-have-something-he-can-put-faith-in/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It is very queer that the unhappiness of the world is so often brought on by small men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/it-is-very-queer-that-the-unhappiness-of-the-world-is-so-often/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [I, too, am going to go away soon,' she says, 'I am weary and weary of my weariness. Everything is beginning to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/i-too-am-going-to-go-away-soon-she-says-i-am-weary-and-weary-of-my/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“One is never too young. Only always too old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/one-is-never-too-young-only-always-too-old/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [You take it from me, we are losing the war because we can salute too well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/you-take-it-from-me-we-are-losing-the-war-because-we-can-salute-too/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It keeps them going, staves off the evil day when they will be alone. And to be alone, really alone, without illusion, that way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/it-keeps-them-going-staves-off-the-evil-day-when-they-will-be-alone/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“Suddenly he knew all the things he should have said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/suddenly-he-knew-all-the-things-he-should-have-said/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“To hell with it. What was the use trying to make safe and sure our little life? Sooner or later the great wave must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/to-hell-with-it-what-was-the-use-trying-to-make-safe-and-sure-our/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“I glance at my boots. They are big and clumsy, the breeches are tucked into them, and standing up one looks well-built and powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/i-glance-at-my-boots-they-are-big-and-clumsy-the-breeches-are-tucked/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) [Explore all 360 Erich Maria Remarque quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I cannot really play. Either at piano or at life; never, never have I been able to. I have always been too hasty, too impatient; something always intervenes and breaks it up. But who really knows how to play, and if he does know, what good is it to him? Is the great dark less dark for that, are the unanswerable questions less inscrutable, does the pain of despair at eternal inadequacy burn less fiercely, and can life ever be explained and seized and ridden like a tamed horse or is it always a mighty sail that carries us in the storm and, when we try to seize it, sweep us into the deep? Sometimes there is a hole in me that seems to extend to the center of the earth. What could fill it? Yearning? Dispair? Happiness? What happiness? Fatigue? Resignation? Death? What am I alive for? 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