--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music is of two kinds: one petty, poor…" description: "\"Music is of two kinds: one petty, poor, second-rate, never varying, its base the hundred or so phrasings which all musicians understand, a babbling whi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/honor-de-balzac-197_babbling_music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-sec_346116.png" --- # Music is of two kinds: one petty, poor, second-rate, never… ![“Music is of two kinds: one petty, poor, second-rate, never varying, its base the hundred or so phrasings which all musicians understand, a babbling which is more or less pleasant, the life that most composers live.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/honor-de-balzac-197_babbling_music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-sec_346116.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/honor-de-balzac-197_babbling_music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-sec_346116.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/honor-de-balzac-197_babbling_music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-sec_346116.png) > “Music is of two kinds: one petty, poor, second-rate, never varying, its base the hundred or so phrasings which all musicians understand, a babbling which is more or less pleasant, the life that most composers live.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music can be shallow and formulaic, repeating familiar phrases, while true artistry seeks depth and variation. **In simple terms:** Shallow music repeats familiar phrases; deep music seeks variation. Key Takeaway Seek depth, avoid formulaic patterns. Themes art music creativity authenticity Mood reflective critical Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - listening - education - composition Key Concepts Aesthetics originality expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize depth in music? - What habits keep you from repeating clichés? A Different Perspective Even deep music can become formulaic if not challenged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Second rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-rate/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Musicians should understand that it is not just about creating one hit but to sustain it at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shankar-mahadevan/musicians-should-understand-that-it-is-not-just-about-creating-one/) [Shankar Mahadevan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shankar-mahadevan/) > [Musicians understand each other through means other that speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/musicians-understand-each-other-through-means-other-that-speaking/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [I think all musicians should understand that you have chosen not to be a soldier but a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/i-think-all-musicians-should-understand-that-you-have-chosen-not-to/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [Like family, we are tied to each other. This is what all good musicians understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/like-family-we-are-tied-to-each-other-this-is-what-all-good-musicians/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Its just first finding the right musicians that understand it and they have to be excited about what theyre doing. Some musicians want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre-2/its-just-first-finding-the-right-musicians-that-understand-it-and/) [Dr Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre-2/) > [I gravitate to rhythmic music, so I listen to jazz, world music, Indian music, Hawaiian music, all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-gravitate-to-rhythmic-music-so-i-listen-to-jazz-world-music-indian/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [My father's record collection was full of New Orleans music of all kinds. I used to listen to the radio in New York, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-peyroux/my-father-s-record-collection-was-full-of-new-orleans-music-of-all/) [Madeleine Peyroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-peyroux/) > [I wouldn't want to be ideological about it but I think of it as being the best way to approach this kind of playing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-ideological-about-it-but-i-think-of-it-as-being/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [My sons are into German music, but they are into all kinds of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-emerson/my-sons-are-into-german-music-but-they-are-into-all-kinds-of-music/) [Keith Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-emerson/) > [I've discovered all kinds of music and done all kinds of music over the past 40 years, from playing tango with Piazzolla to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-burton/i-ve-discovered-all-kinds-of-music-and-done-all-kinds-of-music-over/) [Gary Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-burton/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [The world is forever babbling of originality; but there never yet was an original man, in the sense intended by the world; the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-world-is-forever-babbling-of-originality-but-there-never-yet-was/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans.” MATTHEW 6:7 NIV”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/when-you-pray-do-not-keep-on-babbling-like-pagans-matthew-6-7-niv/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In Lullabies, I wanted to capture what I remembered of the drunken babbling of unfortunate twelve-year-olds: their illusions, their ludicrously bad choices, their lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/in-lullabies-i-wanted-to-capture-what-i-remembered-of-the-drunken/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [There’s always time for babbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-s-always-time-for-babbling/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Babbling quotes > [There’s always time for babbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-s-always-time-for-babbling/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [In Lullabies, I wanted to capture what I remembered of the drunken babbling of unfortunate twelve-year-olds: their illusions, their ludicrously bad choices, their lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/in-lullabies-i-wanted-to-capture-what-i-remembered-of-the-drunken/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [“When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans.” MATTHEW 6:7 NIV”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/when-you-pray-do-not-keep-on-babbling-like-pagans-matthew-6-7-niv/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The world is forever babbling of originality; but there never yet was an original man, in the sense intended by the world; the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-world-is-forever-babbling-of-originality-but-there-never-yet-was/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Come, follow me, and leave the world to its babblings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/come-follow-me-and-leave-the-world-to-its-babblings/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Thanks to Reagan, the insane now walk among us babbling about Starbucks and sodomite semen in this zombie apocalypse we call the 21st century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-sukie-de-la-croix/thanks-to-reagan-the-insane-now-walk-among-us-babbling-about/) St. Sukie de la Croix > [We should stop going around babbling about how we're the greatest democracy on earth, when we're not even a democracy. We are a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/we-should-stop-going-around-babbling-about-how-we-re-the-greatest/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“I wondered if having conversations with your dog was less crazy than babbling to yourself when no one else was around. I guess it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-baker/i-wondered-if-having-conversations-with-your-dog-was-less-crazy-than/) [Deb Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-baker/) > [I know at times I come across like a Neanderthal or a babbling idiot, but I like that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-at-times-i-come-across-like-a-neanderthal-or-a-babbling-idiot/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Too many individuals are like Shakespeare's definition of "echo,"--babbling gossips of the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/too-many-individuals-are-like-shakespeare-s-definition-of-echo/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Usually I play people who just keep babbling on and on and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/usually-i-play-people-who-just-keep-babbling-on-and-on-and-on/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [“Hallo, Bertie." "Hallo, old turnip. Where have you been all this while?" "Oh, here and there! Ripping weather we're having, Bertie." "Not bad." "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/hallo-bertie-hallo-old-turnip-where-have-you-been-all-this-while-oh/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [Failure is an inescapable part of life and a critically important part of any successful life. We learn to walk by falling, to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tal-ben-shahar/failure-is-an-inescapable-part-of-life-and-a-critically-important/) [Tal Ben-Shahar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tal-ben-shahar/) > [Your date will not be impressed by you throwing up on her brand-new shoes, as you spout poetic babblings that are meaningful only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/your-date-will-not-be-impressed-by-you-throwing-up-on-her-brand-new/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [“She was babbling. She should stop. Actually, she should just stop talking. Forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-was-babbling-she-should-stop-actually-she-should-just-stop/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) Browse all 59 Babbling quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Music is of two kinds: one petty, poor, second-rate, never varying, its base the hundred or so phrasings which all musicians understand, a babbling which is more or less pleasant, the life that most composers live.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-second-rate-never-varying-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Babbling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-second-rate-never-varying-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/honor-de-balzac-197_babbling_music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-sec_346116.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/honor-de-balzac-197_babbling_music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-sec_346116.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/honor-de-balzac-197_babbling_music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-sec_346116.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Music is of two kinds: one petty, poor, second-rate, never varying, its base the hundred or so phrasings…” — Honore de Balzac", "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": "Honore de Balzac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Music is of two kinds: one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-second-rate-never-varying-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/music-is-of-two-kinds-one-petty-poor-second-rate-never-varying-its/#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 } } ] } ```