--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music that paints nothing is only noise." description: "\"Music that paints nothing is only noise.\" — Jean le Rond d'Alembert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_music_music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise_985621.jpg" --- # Music that paints nothing is only noise. ![“Music that paints nothing is only noise.” quote by Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_music_music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise_985621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_music_music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise_985621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_music_music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise_985621.jpg) > “Music that paints nothing is only noise.” [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music lacking expressive content is mere sound without purpose. **In simple terms:** Music without meaning is just noise. Key Takeaway Seek depth in artistic expression. Themes art music meaning creativity expression Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - listening habits - music education - creative composition Key Concepts aesthetics communication sound theory Questions to Reflect On - When can noise be purposeful? - How does silence shape music? A Different Perspective Noise can be intentional and valuable in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [You can never have enough guitars. It's like women and shoes... it's nice to have different paints on your palette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-genn/you-can-never-have-enough-guitars-it-s-like-women-and-shoes-it-s-nice/) Dave Genn > [When mountains and waters are painted, blue, green, and red paints are used, strange rocks and wondrous stones are used, the four jewels and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/when-mountains-and-waters-are-painted-blue-green-and-red-paints-are/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [Every good painter paints what he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/every-good-painter-paints-what-he-is/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) > [One makes use of pigments, but one paints with one's feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-simeon-chardin/one-makes-use-of-pigments-but-one-paints-with-one-s-feelings/) Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin > [The riot isn't seen in the movie, but it is alluded to. He has this one speech that gives a great sense of texture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-allen/the-riot-isn-t-seen-in-the-movie-but-it-is-alluded-to-he-has-this-one/) [Debbie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-allen/) > [My dad's an artist, and my grandfather paints - he's not a painter; my grandfather's a butcher - but he does a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dalton/my-dad-s-an-artist-and-my-grandfather-paints-he-s-not-a-painter-my/) [Brett Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dalton/) > [It is not sufficient that what one paints should be made visible. It must be made tangible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-braque/it-is-not-sufficient-that-what-one-paints-should-be-made-visible-it/) [Georges Braque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-braque/) > [One paints with one's head, not one's hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/one-paints-with-one-s-head-not-one-s-hand/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [I remember one time in my junior year, in my art class, our teacher had us doing, like, finger paints, and I went and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cc-sabathia/i-remember-one-time-in-my-junior-year-in-my-art-class-our-teacher-had/) [CC Sabathia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cc-sabathia/) > [I'm not some kind of machine that paints pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-pearson-wright/i-m-not-some-kind-of-machine-that-paints-pictures/) [Stuart Pearson Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-pearson-wright/) > [The soul paints itself in our machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/the-soul-paints-itself-in-our-machines/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Just as I work with paints, brushes, and canvas, I work with the light, pieces of glass and chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/just-as-i-work-with-paints-brushes-and-canvas-i-work-with-the-light/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [Every picture one paints involves not painting others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/every-picture-one-paints-involves-not-painting-others/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [You know, if one paints someone's portrait, one should not know him if possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-dix/you-know-if-one-paints-someone-s-portrait-one-should-not-know-him-if/) [Otto Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-dix/) > [I'm compelled to paint nearly every day. I just felt like making a painting, went out and bought paints and a canvas. Now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-johansen/i-m-compelled-to-paint-nearly-every-day-i-just-felt-like-making-a/) [David Johansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-johansen/) ## More by Jean le Rond d'Alembert > [Push on and faith will catch up with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/push-on-and-faith-will-catch-up-with-you/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [One magnitude is said to be the limit of another magnitude when the second may approach the first within any given magnitude, however small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/one-magnitude-is-said-to-be-the-limit-of-another-magnitude-when-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [Algebra is generous; she often gives more than is asked of her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/algebra-is-generous-she-often-gives-more-than-is-asked-of-her/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [The true system of the World has been recognized, developed and perfected...Everything has been discussed and analysed, or at least mentioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/the-true-system-of-the-world-has-been-recognized-developed-and/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [High office, is like a pyramid; only two kinds of animals reach the summit — reptiles and eagles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/high-office-is-like-a-pyramid-only-two-kinds-of-animals-reach-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [If one looks at all closely at the middle of our own century, the events that occupy us, our customs, our achievements and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/if-one-looks-at-all-closely-at-the-middle-of-our-own-century-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [In England it was enough that Newton was the greatest mathematican of his century; in France he would have been expected to be agreeable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/in-england-it-was-enough-that-newton-was-the-greatest-mathematican-of/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [“In effect, what is a courtier? He is a man whom the misfortune of kings and people has placed betwixt the sovereign and truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/in-effect-what-is-a-courtier-he-is-a-man-whom-the-misfortune-of-kings/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [Just go on . . . and faith will soon return. To a friend hesitant with respect to infinitesimals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/just-go-on-and-faith-will-soon-return-to-a-friend-hesitant-with/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [A philosopher is a fool who torments himself while he is alive, to be talked of after he is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/a-philosopher-is-a-fool-who-torments-himself-while-he-is-alive-to-be/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [The more wit we have, the less satisfied we are with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/the-more-wit-we-have-the-less-satisfied-we-are-with-it/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [There are only two kinds of certain knowledge: Awareness of our own existence and the truths of mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/there-are-only-two-kinds-of-certain-knowledge-awareness-of-our-own/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [“Every age, and especially our own, stands in need of a Diogenes ; but the difficulty is in finding men who have the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/every-age-and-especially-our-own-stands-in-need-of-a-diogenes-but-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [D'Alembert was always surrounded by controversy. ... he was the lightning rod which drew sparks from all the foes of the philosophes. ... Unfortunately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/d-alembert-was-always-surrounded-by-controversy-he-was-the-lightning/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) [Explore all 21 Jean le Rond d'Alembert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) ## 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 that paints nothing is only noise.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean le Rond d'Alembert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_music_music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise_985621.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_music_music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise_985621.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_music_music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise_985621.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Music that paints nothing is only noise.” — Jean le Rond d'Alembert", "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": "Jean le Rond d'Alembert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Music that paints nothing is only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/music-that-paints-nothing-is-only-noise/#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 } } ] } ```