---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music allows us to assemble temporal…"
description: "\"“Music allows us to assemble temporal sequences into mental scaffolding that transcends the thinness of time in which we live.”\" — George B. Dyson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/george-b-dyson-84762_music_music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-seq_2445547.jpg"
---

#  Music allows us to assemble temporal sequences into mental…

![“Music allows us to assemble temporal sequences into mental scaffolding that transcends the thinness of time in which we live.” quote by George B. Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/george-b-dyson-84762_music_music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-seq_2445547.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/george-b-dyson-84762_music_music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-seq_2445547.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/george-b-dyson-84762_music_music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-seq_2445547.jpg)

> ““Music allows us to assemble temporal sequences into mental scaffolding that transcends the thinness of time in which we live.””

George B. Dyson

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Music helps us organize time into mental structures, allowing us to transcend the fleeting nature of our temporal experience.

**In simple terms:** Music creates mental scaffolds that overcome time’s thinness.

Key Takeaway

Use music to shape perception of time.

Themes

creativity perception temporal cognition

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

philosophical artistic

When to use this quote

- education
- therapy
- artistic composition

Key Concepts

mental scaffolding temporal transcendence

Questions to Reflect On

- How does music alter your sense of time?
- Can other arts provide similar scaffolding?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone experiences music similarly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [The evolution of the music is what allows it to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-church/the-evolution-of-the-music-is-what-allows-it-to-survive/)

[Eric Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-church/)

> [Music allows the great opportunity to play with people you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/music-allows-the-great-opportunity-to-play-with-people-you-love/)

[Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/)

> [“I think music is what language once aspired to be. Music allows us to face God on our own terms because it reaches beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/i-think-music-is-what-language-once-aspired-to-be-music-allows-us-to-2/)

[Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/)

> [The world is in great need of more music education. When students play music, it allows a part of their artistic mind to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reed-smith/the-world-is-in-great-need-of-more-music-education-when-students-play/)

[Paul Reed Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reed-smith/)

> [Music allows the great opportunity to play with people who turned you on and you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/music-allows-the-great-opportunity-to-play-with-people-who-turned-you/)

[Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/)

> [I hope in general that my music allows somebody to follow what they really like doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-glover/i-hope-in-general-that-my-music-allows-somebody-to-follow-what-they/)

[Donald Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-glover/)

> [I think music is what language once aspired to be. Music allows us to face God on our own terms because it reaches beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/i-think-music-is-what-language-once-aspired-to-be-music-allows-us-to/)

[Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/)

> [There's a certain standard in classical music that allows the application of the term "genius," but you're treading on thin ice if you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/there-s-a-certain-standard-in-classical-music-that-allows-the/)

[Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/)

> [Knowing that I am out here, with a full open heart, travelling and living my dream with my guys playing music, that allows me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/granger-smith/knowing-that-i-am-out-here-with-a-full-open-heart-travelling-and/)

[Granger Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/granger-smith/)

> [Whether good or bad things happen, music allows you to separate yourself from reality a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/whether-good-or-bad-things-happen-music-allows-you-to-separate/)

[HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/)

> [It's really rare that an entire genre of music allows an artist from a different genre to come and live there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/it-s-really-rare-that-an-entire-genre-of-music-allows-an-artist-from/)

[Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/)

> [Sometimes being a little out of control makes the best music and allows others to blossom as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-and-the-mixtape/sometimes-being-a-little-out-of-control-makes-the-best-music-and/)

[Janine and The Mixtape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-and-the-mixtape/)

> [From my perspective, music allows me to escape from the world of what is happening right in front of me... to the world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-de-niese/from-my-perspective-music-allows-me-to-escape-from-the-world-of-what/)

[Danielle de Niese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-de-niese/)

> [I love music because of the emotions behind it. music allows people to connect with one another. listening to people express their emotions with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa/i-love-music-because-of-the-emotions-behind-it-music-allows-people-to/)

[Alyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa/)

> [I feel like my music at least allows me to release the other side of me, a more vulnerable and sensitive side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickie-james/i-feel-like-my-music-at-least-allows-me-to-release-the-other-side-of/)

[Mickie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickie-james/)

## More by George B. Dyson

> [“The term bit (the contraction, by 40 bits, of “binary digit”) was coined by statistician John W. Tukey shortly after he joined von Neumann’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-dyson/the-term-bit-the-contraction-by-40-bits-of-binary-digit-was-coined-by/)

George B. Dyson

> [ “The transposition of two Letters by five placeings will be sufficient for 32 Differences \[and\] by this Art a way is opened, whereby a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-dyson/the-transposition-of-two-letters-by-five-placeings-will-be-sufficient/)

George B. Dyson

Explore all 3 George B. Dyson quotes

## More Music quotes

> [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/)

[Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/)

> [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/)

[Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/)

> [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/)

Hubert Laws

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/)

[Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/)

> [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/)

[Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/)

> [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/)

[Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/)

> [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/)

[Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/)

Adam Ant

> [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/)

[Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/)

[Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Music allows us to assemble temporal sequences into mental scaffolding that transcends the thinness of time in which we live.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George B. Dyson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-dyson/music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-sequences-into-mental/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Music"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-dyson/music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-sequences-into-mental/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/george-b-dyson-84762_music_music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-seq_2445547.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/george-b-dyson-84762_music_music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-seq_2445547.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/george-b-dyson-84762_music_music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-seq_2445547.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Music allows us to assemble temporal sequences into mental scaffolding that transcends the thinness of time…” — George B. Dyson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "George B. Dyson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-b-dyson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Music allows us to assemble temporal...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-dyson/music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-sequences-into-mental/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-dyson/music-allows-us-to-assemble-temporal-sequences-into-mental/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
