Amends Quote by John Cage
“Discord occasions a momentary distress to the ear, which remains unsatisfied, and even uneasy, until it hears something better. I am convinced...that provided the ear be at length made amends, there are few dissonances too strong for it. Disharmony, to paraphrase Bergson's statement about disorder, is simply a harmony to which many are unaccustomed.”
About This Quote
Discord creates an uncomfortable silence until a better sound resolves it; disharmony is just unfamiliar harmony.
In simple terms: Noise unsettles us until something pleasing replaces it; unfamiliar sounds feel discordant.
Seek harmony by introducing pleasing sounds.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- music composition
- urban soundscape
- personal listening
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you transform discord into artistic expression?
- What sounds bring you comfort after a disturbance?
Not all discord is negative; it can lead to new creative forms.