Parenting Quote by Helen DeWitt
““Sometimes my mother did practice but one thing led to another and sometimes she did not. The advice of the homely man was something of a curse. She would not practice at all if she could not practice right so that gradually she played less and less and sometimes not at all. I used to think that things might have been different. Gieseking never played a scale and Glenn Gould hardly practiced at all, they would just look at the score and think and think and think. If the homely man had said to go away and think this would have been every bit as revolutionary a concept for a Konigsberg. Perhaps he even thought that you had to think. But you can't show someone how to think in an hour; you can give someone an exercise to take away.””
About This Quote
Overemphasis on practice without understanding can stifle creativity; thinking and exercise are both needed, but teaching thought is impossible in a short time.
In simple terms: Too much practice without insight hinders growth; thinking matters too.
Key Takeaway
Balance practice with reflective thinking.
Themes
creativity
learning
discipline
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- music training
- academic study
- skill acquisition
- creative problem solving
Key Concepts
Education
cognitive psychology
artistic development
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you integrate thinking into practice?
- What exercises foster deeper understanding?
A Different Perspective
Practice alone doesn’t guarantee mastery; insight is crucial.
