--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man must pay the fiddler. In my case it…" description: "\"A man must pay the fiddler. In my case it so happened that a whole symphony orchestra often had to be subsidized.\" — John Barrymore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/john-barrymore-20453_cases_a-man-must-pay-the-fiddler-in-my-case-it_2135394.jpg" --- # A man must pay the fiddler. In my case it so happened that… ![“A man must pay the fiddler. In my case it so happened that a whole symphony orchestra often had to be subsidized.” quote by John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/john-barrymore-20453_cases_a-man-must-pay-the-fiddler-in-my-case-it_2135394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/john-barrymore-20453_cases_a-man-must-pay-the-fiddler-in-my-case-it_2135394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/john-barrymore-20453_cases_a-man-must-pay-the-fiddler-in-my-case-it_2135394.jpg) > “A man must pay the fiddler. In my case it so happened that a whole symphony orchestra often had to be subsidized.” [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously suggests that artistic endeavors often require financial support, likening it to paying a fiddler or orchestra for their performance. **In simple terms:** Art often needs money to happen. Key Takeaway Invest in the arts. Themes art finance humor Mood reflective wry Type commentary humorous When to use this quote - theatre productions - film budgets - music festivals - publishing Key Concepts patronage creative economics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance artistic integrity with financial constraints? - What are alternative ways to support creators? A Different Perspective Artistic funding can be unpredictable and limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiddlers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiddlers/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Orchestra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orchestra/) [Symphony orchestras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symphony-orchestras/) ## Related quotes > [This would be a great world to dance in if we didn’t have to pay the fiddler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/this-would-be-a-great-world-to-dance-in-if-we-didn-t-have-to-pay-the/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [I was a Russian dancer in my elementary school production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' when I was in third grade or fourth grade.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/i-was-a-russian-dancer-in-my-elementary-school-production-of-fiddler/) [Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/) > [A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-harnick/a-fiddler-on-the-roof-sounds-crazy-no-but-here-in-our-little-village/) [Sheldon Harnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-harnick/) > [A writer of story books! What kind of business in life-what mode of glorifying God, or being serviceable to mankind in his day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/a-writer-of-story-books-what-kind-of-business-in-life-what-mode-of/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [The album for Fiddler really took off. I think it was a combination of John Williams and the score. It was a very classy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/the-album-for-fiddler-really-took-off-i-think-it-was-a-combination-of/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [“Harmless and huge, Fire saw when she emerged from her tent. His fiddle was like a toy in his hands; this man’s sword must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/harmless-and-huge-fire-saw-when-she-emerged-from-her-tent-his-fiddle/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I was 12 or 13 the first time I ever performed onstage with a cast of people. It was 'Fiddler on the Roof.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/i-was-12-or-13-the-first-time-i-ever-performed-onstage-with-a-cast-of/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [In a fiddler's house all are dancers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/in-a-fiddler-s-house-all-are-dancers/) Proverb > [I've spent hours and hours doing research into Appalachian folk music. My grandfather was a fiddler. 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It's all in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-krauss/you-know-if-you-really-want-to-fiddle-the-old-time-way-you-ve-got-to/) [Alison Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-krauss/) > [I was really excited to have the opportunity to make Fiddler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-was-really-excited-to-have-the-opportunity-to-make-fiddler/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) ## More by John Barrymore > [America is the country where you can buy a lifetime supply of aspirin For one dollar and use it up in two weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/america-is-the-country-where-you-can-buy-a-lifetime-supply-of-aspirin/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [In Genesis, it says that it is not good for a man to be alone; but sometimes it is a great relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/in-genesis-it-says-that-it-is-not-good-for-a-man-to-be-alone-but/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [My head is buried in the sands of tomorrow, while my tail feathers are singed by the hot sun of today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/my-head-is-buried-in-the-sands-of-tomorrow-while-my-tail-feathers-are/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [I would like to find a stew that will give me heartburn immediately, instead of at three o clock in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/i-would-like-to-find-a-stew-that-will-give-me-heartburn-immediately/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [ Mr. \[John\] Barrymore's smile was the smile of an actor who hates actors, and who knows that he is going to kill two or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/mr-john-barrymore-s-smile-was-the-smile-of-an-actor-who-hates-actors/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Why is there so much month left at the end of the money?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/why-is-there-so-much-month-left-at-the-end-of-the-money/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [When archaeologists discover the missing arms of Venus de Milo, they will find she was wearing boxing gloves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/when-archaeologists-discover-the-missing-arms-of-venus-de-milo-they/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [“happiness always sneaks in through a door you din't know you left open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/happiness-always-sneaks-in-through-a-door-you-din-t-know-you-left-open/) [john barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [He neither drank, smoked, nor rode a bicycle. 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