Acting Quote by John Cage
“When you make music you are acting as a philosopher. You can either do that consciously or you can do it unconsciously, but you're doing it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1975, The New York Times
Creating music is an act of philosophical inquiry, whether intentional or subconscious, because it expresses ideas about existence.
In simple terms: Making music is thinking about life.
Key Takeaway
Treat artistic creation as a form of philosophy.
Themes
art
creativity
philosophy
expression
Mood
inquisitive
thoughtful
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- composing
- improvisation
- listening
- teaching
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
consciousness
intentionality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does your music say about your worldview?
- Do you prefer deliberate or spontaneous creation?
A Different Perspective
Not all music is consciously philosophical; some may lack depth.
![“It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic [totally silent] chamber not expecting in that silent room to hear two sounds: one high, my nervous system in operation, one low, my blood in circulation. The reason I did not expect to hear those two sounds was that they…” quote by John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/153/john-cage-2094_blood_it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years_56114.jpg)
