--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a man, playing a violin, and the…" description: "\"There is a man, playing a violin, and the strings are the nerves in his own arm...\" — James O'Barr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/james-o-barr-26612_arms_there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the_1766730.png" --- # There is a man, playing a violin, and the strings are the… ![“There is a man, playing a violin, and the strings are the nerves in his own arm...” quote by James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/james-o-barr-26612_arms_there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the_1766730.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/james-o-barr-26612_arms_there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the_1766730.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/james-o-barr-26612_arms_there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the_1766730.png) > “There is a man, playing a violin, and the strings are the nerves in his own arm...” [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The metaphor likens a violinist’s strings to nerves, illustrating how personal expression is rooted in one’s own nervous system. **In simple terms:** Music mirrors the nervous system. Key Takeaway Understand the body‑mind link in creativity. Themes creativity biology music self‑expression Mood introspective artistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - performance - therapy - education - personal growth Key Concepts neuroscience artistic metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How does your nervous system influence your creative work? - Can you feel the ‘strings’ when performing? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex neurobiology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nerves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves/) [Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin/) ## Related quotes > [“Your violin has only two strings,” I say. “You’re missing the other two.” Yes, he says. He’s well aware. “All I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/your-violin-has-only-two-strings-i-say-you-re-missing-the-other-two/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [At the age of nine, playing the violin at school, and then onto the mandolin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/at-the-age-of-nine-playing-the-violin-at-school-and-then-onto-the/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) > [I first started playing the violin at 6. And then at 7, it was piano. So from then it was just classical music like every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lau/i-first-started-playing-the-violin-at-6-and-then-at-7-it-was-piano-so/) [Henry Lau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lau/) > [Playing the violin and singing and whistling are just three different ways of making sound. It's not trying to replace a band, per se.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/playing-the-violin-and-singing-and-whistling-are-just-three-different-2/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [I started playing violin because I was fascinated by how violin players could play so fast. I would buy their cassettes, and learn different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-lightman/i-started-playing-violin-because-i-was-fascinated-by-how-violin/) Toby Lightman > [Playing the violin and singing and whistling are just three different ways of making sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/playing-the-violin-and-singing-and-whistling-are-just-three-different/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [I would also like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-desmond/i-would-also-like-to-thank-my-father-who-discouraged-me-from-playing/) [Paul Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-desmond/) > [I would like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-desmond/i-would-like-to-thank-my-father-who-discouraged-me-from-playing-the/) [Paul Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-desmond/) > [I was actually the head of the violin after-school club. And then I was also the head of the dance club, the popping club.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lau/i-was-actually-the-head-of-the-violin-after-school-club-and-then-i/) [Henry Lau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lau/) > [Well, since I'm six years old, I've been playing the violin, the piano, I've been singing. It's always been a dream of mine, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paris-hilton/well-since-i-m-six-years-old-i-ve-been-playing-the-violin-the-piano-i/) [Paris Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paris-hilton/) > [I am playing the violin, that's all I know, nothing else, no education, no nothing. You just practice every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/i-am-playing-the-violin-that-s-all-i-know-nothing-else-no-education/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [If I'm playing a violin thing, for instance, I tend to respond to that sound with the way I finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/if-i-m-playing-a-violin-thing-for-instance-i-tend-to-respond-to-that/) [Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/) > [I started playing the violin at age 3, and I was very fortunate because there were people who heard me who were influential in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ramone/i-started-playing-the-violin-at-age-3-and-i-was-very-fortunate/) [Phil Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ramone/) > [I started playing violin when I was about five years old and I learned to read a little bit of music, but that's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/i-started-playing-violin-when-i-was-about-five-years-old-and-i/) [Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/) > [The only downside to playing the violin is that you never know when you're going to be asked to play. I could be out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-siem/the-only-downside-to-playing-the-violin-is-that-you-never-know-when/) [Charlie Siem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-siem/) ## More by James O'Barr > [“There are no boundries between good and evil where love is concerned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/there-are-no-boundries-between-good-and-evil-where-love-is-concerned/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [Life is just a dream on the way to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/life-is-just-a-dream-on-the-way-to-death/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [Fear is for the enemy. Fear and bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/fear-is-for-the-enemy-fear-and-bullets/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [Funboy: Pal, something is seriously wrong with you. The Crow: Atrocity has that effect on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/funboy-pal-something-is-seriously-wrong-with-you-the-crow-atrocity/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [It can't rain all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/it-can-t-rain-all-the-time/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [“When sorrow comes, they come not single spies, but in battalions. I've allies in heaven, Jack, i've commrades in hell...say hello for me...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/when-sorrow-comes-they-come-not-single-spies-but-in-battalions-i-ve/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [So the crow spirals down through a collapsed dream and the only sound it makes in like a concave scream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/so-the-crow-spirals-down-through-a-collapsed-dream-and-the-only-sound/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [“I know why Jesus wept Motherfucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/i-know-why-jesus-wept-motherfucker/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [“Nothing is trivial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/nothing-is-trivial/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [Death, like virtue, has its degrees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/death-like-virtue-has-its-degrees/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [“Sarah: "Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/sarah-buildings-burn-people-die-but-real-love-is-forever/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/if-the-people-we-love-are-stolen-from-us-the-way-to-have-them-live-on-2/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [“Sometimes I dream of sleepiness, sometimes I feel like I'm alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/sometimes-i-dream-of-sleepiness-sometimes-i-feel-like-i-m-alive/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [It's not death if you refuse it... It is if you accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/it-s-not-death-if-you-refuse-it-it-is-if-you-accept-it/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [“ICH BENDÜRFNES JESUS CHRISTUS HANGELENK MEIN GEBEIN WEINEN ODLAND, KRIEGSBIET, LEBENWEISE GESCHWINDIGKEIT, HALBMESSER, ABSTEIG GNAPENSTOB”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/ich-bend-rfnes-jesus-christus-hangelenk-mein-gebein-weinen-odland/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) [Explore all 20 James O'Barr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a man, playing a violin, and the strings are the nerves in his own arm...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James O'Barr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the-strings-are-the-nerves-in-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the-strings-are-the-nerves-in-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/james-o-barr-26612_arms_there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the_1766730.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/james-o-barr-26612_arms_there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the_1766730.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/james-o-barr-26612_arms_there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the_1766730.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a man, playing a violin, and the strings are the nerves in his own arm...” — James O'Barr", "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": "James O'Barr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a man, playing a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the-strings-are-the-nerves-in-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/there-is-a-man-playing-a-violin-and-the-strings-are-the-nerves-in-his/#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 } } ] } ```