Carter Quote by James Sellars
“I would like to hear Elliot Carter's Fourth String Quartet, if only to discover what a cranky prostate does to one's polyphony.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: James Sellars discussing music, date unknown
The speaker humorously links a bodily discomfort to the complexity of a musical piece, highlighting how personal quirks influence artistic perception.
In simple terms: Physical oddities can shape how we hear music.
Key Takeaway
Notice how your body affects your listening.
Themes
humor
music
humanity
Mood
playful
thoughtful
Type
anecdotal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- listening to complex music
- discussing health impacts on art
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
physiology
interpretation
Questions to Reflect On
- Does bodily discomfort ever alter your artistic taste?
- How do you separate humor from serious critique?
A Different Perspective
The joke may trivialize genuine health concerns.
![“I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or a survey and Legal Services Corporation board when President [Jimmy ]Carter appointed me and trying to get lawyers for poor people. I have worked in these…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6c7/hillary-clinton-51_action_i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-th_9078.jpg)
![“[A]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling.” quote by Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/212/emmett-tyrrell-42438_administration_a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing_38310.jpg)
![“I've kept the people who've been in my career who I feel are my family. Kathy [Kennedy] had been with me since 1978. Janusz Kaminsky, my cinematographer, has made every movie with me since Schindler's List. Michael Kahn has cut every movie I've directed since 1976 when we made Close Encounters…” quote by Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/521/steven-spielberg-963_careers_i-ve-kept-the-people-who-ve-been-in-my-c_71893.jpg)
![“Here's a foolproof method for keeping America safe. Always do the exact 180-degree opposite of whatever [Jimmy] Carter says, as quickly as possible.” quote by Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/842/ann-coulter-469_america_here-s-a-foolproof-method-for-keeping-am_71978.jpg)
