--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to make a piece of music…" description: "\"It is better to make a piece of music than to perform one, better to perform one than to listen to one, better to listen to one than to misuse it as a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/john-cage-2094_acquisition_it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-th_1382533.png" --- # It is better to make a piece of music than to perform one… ![“It is better to make a piece of music than to perform one, better to perform one than to listen to one, better to listen to one than to misuse it as a means of distraction, entertainment, or acquisition of 'culture.'” quote by John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/john-cage-2094_acquisition_it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-th_1382533.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/john-cage-2094_acquisition_it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-th_1382533.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/john-cage-2094_acquisition_it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-th_1382533.png) > “It is better to make a piece of music than to perform one, better to perform one than to listen to one, better to listen to one than to misuse it as a means of distraction, entertainment, or acquisition of 'culture.'” [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating music is more valuable than performing, which is more valuable than listening, which is more valuable than using music merely as background noise. **In simple terms:** Making music matters more than using it. Key Takeaway Prioritize creation over consumption. Themes creativity art value Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - music composition - performance - active listening - media consumption Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy cultural criticism Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to create rather than consume? - How does passive listening affect culture? A Different Perspective Listening can also be passive and uncritical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquisition/) [Better Perform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-perform-1279322/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Listen Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-better-2381889/) [Listen Misuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-misuse-4794892/) [Misuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misuse/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Perform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-perform-1146924/) [Perform Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perform-better/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [If my co-stars perform better, I perform better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/if-my-co-stars-perform-better-i-perform-better/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [When I eat better, I perform better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-mccormick/when-i-eat-better-i-perform-better/) [Kathryn McCormick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-mccormick/) > [I respect very much my public and also the music I perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/i-respect-very-much-my-public-and-also-the-music-i-perform/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [I think the older we get, the better we perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-caffey/i-think-the-older-we-get-the-better-we-perform/) [Charlotte Caffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-caffey/) > [The more you like yourself, the better you perform in everything that you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-more-you-like-yourself-the-better-you-perform-in-everything-that/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“If you expect more from yourself than from others, you are saying that you are better than others and therefore must perform at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/if-you-expect-more-from-yourself-than-from-others-you-are-saying-that-2/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [I'm living my dream right now. I get to make music, perform and travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ville-valo/i-m-living-my-dream-right-now-i-get-to-make-music-perform-and-travel/) [Ville Valo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ville-valo/) > [Continuing to create music and perform is so important to me for many reasons. I love the interaction and connection I get with people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/continuing-to-create-music-and-perform-is-so-important-to-me-for-many/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [I like to make my own music and perform live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-like-to-make-my-own-music-and-perform-live/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [If I don't feel the music, I can't perform it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-merton/if-i-don-t-feel-the-music-i-can-t-perform-it/) [Alice Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-merton/) > [If we listen to the better angels of our nature, there are creative and good solutions to serious problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/if-we-listen-to-the-better-angels-of-our-nature-there-are-creative/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [You hear but you dont listen you better start pay attention to get the part you've been missin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/you-hear-but-you-dont-listen-you-better-start-pay-attention-to-get/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [I learned from growing a business that it's important to listen to everyone how we can do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/i-learned-from-growing-a-business-that-it-s-important-to-listen-to/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) > [Always listen to yourself... It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/always-listen-to-yourself-it-is-better-to-be-wrong-than-simply-to/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“Ears of corn can listen better than me when they’re still in the ground.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/ears-of-corn-can-listen-better-than-me-when-they-re-still-in-the/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by John Cage > [If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-something-is-boring-after-two-minutes-try-it-for-four-if-still/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [So somebody has talent? So what? Dime a dozen. And we're overpopulated. Actually we have more food than we have people and more art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/so-somebody-has-talent-so-what-dime-a-dozen-and-we-re-overpopulated/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“...the important questions are answered by not liking only but disliking and accepting equally what one likes and dislikes. Otherwise there is no access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-important-questions-are-answered-by-not-liking-only-but-disliking/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [The material of music is sound and silence. Integrating these is composing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-material-of-music-is-sound-and-silence-integrating-these-is/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [There is poetry as soon as we realize that we possess nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/there-is-poetry-as-soon-as-we-realize-that-we-possess-nothing/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [To see, one must go beyond the imiagination and for that one must stand absolutely still as though at the center of a leap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/to-see-one-must-go-beyond-the-imiagination-and-for-that-one-must/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Value judgments are destructive to our proper business, which is curiosity and awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/value-judgments-are-destructive-to-our-proper-business-which-is/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Our intention is to affirm this life, not to bring order out of chaos, nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply to wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/our-intention-is-to-affirm-this-life-not-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [There are some good people in it, but the orchestra as a whole is equivalent to a gang bent on destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/there-are-some-good-people-in-it-but-the-orchestra-as-a-whole-is/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Art's purpose is to sober and quiet the mind so that it is in accord with what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/art-s-purpose-is-to-sober-and-quiet-the-mind-so-that-it-is-in-accord/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [People who aren't artists often feel that artists are inspired. But if you work at your art you don't have time to be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/people-who-aren-t-artists-often-feel-that-artists-are-inspired-but-if/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“Farting, don't think, just fart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/farting-don-t-think-just-fart/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Not one sound fears the silence that extinguishes it. And no silence exists that is not pregnant with sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/not-one-sound-fears-the-silence-that-extinguishes-it-and-no-silence/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [My work became an exploration of non-intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/my-work-became-an-exploration-of-non-intention/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) [Explore all 186 John Cage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) ## More Acquisition quotes > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [ No one suffers so much as he \[the genius\] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius-with-the-people-and-therefore/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [Personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition. Your qualifications are not your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/personal-happiness-lies-in-knowing-that-life-is-not-a-checklist-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Learning to play the guitar is a combination of mental and motor skill acquisition. And to develop motor skill, repetition is essential... 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When acquisition costs are similar, we much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/accounting-consequences-do-not-influence-our-operating-or-capital/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [A sustainable economy represents nothing less than a higher social order one as concerned with future generations as with our own, and more focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/a-sustainable-economy-represents-nothing-less-than-a-higher-social/) [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) > [One industrial age belief is that GDP or GNP is a measure of progress. I don't care if you're the President of China or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/one-industrial-age-belief-is-that-gdp-or-gnp-is-a-measure-of-progress/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [I ended up doing four or five plays in college and being an English major with my thesis in language acquisition, which I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/i-ended-up-doing-four-or-five-plays-in-college-and-being-an-english/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [But most automotive dealerships are set up for customer acquisition - which is crazy when you consider the average cost of customer acquisition is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hughes/but-most-automotive-dealerships-are-set-up-for-customer-acquisition/) [Arthur Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hughes/) > [As priestcraft was always the enemy of knowledge, because priestcraft supports itself by keeping people in delusion and ignorance, it was consistent with its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/as-priestcraft-was-always-the-enemy-of-knowledge-because-priestcraft/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Even as the unborn babe is in the womb of his mother, these five are fixed as his life destiny: his life span, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-as-the-unborn-babe-is-in-the-womb-of-his-mother-these-five-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What becomes of a man who acquires a beautiful woman, with her "beauty" his sole target? He sabotages himself. He has gained no friend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/what-becomes-of-a-man-who-acquires-a-beautiful-woman-with-her-beauty/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) [Browse all 395 Acquisition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquisition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is better to make a piece of music than to perform one, better to perform one than to listen to one, better to listen to one than to misuse it as a means of distraction, entertainment, or acquisition of 'culture.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cage" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-than-to-perform-one-better-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquisition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-than-to-perform-one-better-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/john-cage-2094_acquisition_it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-th_1382533.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/john-cage-2094_acquisition_it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-th_1382533.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/john-cage-2094_acquisition_it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-th_1382533.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is better to make a piece of music than to perform one, better to perform one than to listen to one…” — John Cage", "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": "John Cage", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is better to make a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-than-to-perform-one-better-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-is-better-to-make-a-piece-of-music-than-to-perform-one-better-to/#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 } } ] } ```