--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Indians long ago knew that music was…" description: "\"The Indians long ago knew that music was going on permanently and that hearing it was like looking out a window at a landscape which didn't stop when o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/john-cage-2094_hearing_the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was_2016421.png" --- # The Indians long ago knew that music was going on… ![“The Indians long ago knew that music was going on permanently and that hearing it was like looking out a window at a landscape which didn't stop when one turned away.” quote by John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/john-cage-2094_hearing_the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was_2016421.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/john-cage-2094_hearing_the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was_2016421.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/john-cage-2094_hearing_the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was_2016421.png) > “The Indians long ago knew that music was going on permanently and that hearing it was like looking out a window at a landscape which didn't stop when one turned away.” [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. He describes music as an ever‑present landscape, perceivable like a view through a window. **In simple terms:** Music is a constant, surrounding landscape. Key Takeaway Listen to the world’s soundtrack. Themes art perception environment Mood thoughtful inspirational Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - urban walking - meditation - sound installations Key Concepts soundscape theory aesthetic philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does ambient sound affect mood? - Can silence be a form of music? A Different Perspective Constant sound can be overwhelming for some listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ago Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ago-knew-1941221/) [Hearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearing/) [Indians Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians-long-3628040/) [Knew Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-music-265728/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Permanently Hearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanently-hearing-3628041/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) ## Related quotes > [Sixty years ago I knew everything; now I know nothing; education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/sixty-years-ago-i-knew-everything-now-i-know-nothing-education-is-a-2/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [I read 'Booksmart' a couple of years ago, so I always knew that it was this wonderful project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-gordon/i-read-booksmart-a-couple-of-years-ago-so-i-always-knew-that-it-was/) [Molly Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-gordon/) > [I understood we used to be close. But they were like books i'd read two summer ago; I knew I'd liked them, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-understood-we-used-to-be-close-but-they-were-like-books-i-d-read/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [I always knew I would do music. At first, I wanted to play basketball, and when I let go of that dream when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodie-shane/i-always-knew-i-would-do-music-at-first-i-wanted-to-play-basketball/) [Kodie Shane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodie-shane/) > [Remember the first time you went to a show and saw your favorite band. You wore their shirt, and sang every word. You didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/remember-the-first-time-you-went-to-a-show-and-saw-your-favorite-band/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [I knew about the music. I got that part but I wanted to know the business, I wanted to know about royalties, how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juicy-j/i-knew-about-the-music-i-got-that-part-but-i-wanted-to-know-the/) [Juicy J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juicy-j/) > [I taught myself how to play guitar - pretty badly, but I knew enough about music to start to figure it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minnie-driver/i-taught-myself-how-to-play-guitar-pretty-badly-but-i-knew-enough/) [Minnie Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minnie-driver/) > [“I also knew that music was pretty much the only thing in life that he felt was worth the hassle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-also-knew-that-music-was-pretty-much-the-only-thing-in-life-that-he/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I knew from when I was six that music would be my life, and I used to spend most of my time in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-knew-from-when-i-was-six-that-music-would-be-my-life-and-i-used-to/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [David Bowie - I definitely knew some of his music as a teenager, but I didn't actually listen to his music as much until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/david-bowie-i-definitely-knew-some-of-his-music-as-a-teenager-but-i/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I devoured everything on the radio, I felt like I knew music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-murray/i-devoured-everything-on-the-radio-i-felt-like-i-knew-music/) [Anne Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-murray/) > [For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard people singing. Behind him, across vast distances of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/for-the-first-time-he-heard-something-that-he-knew-to-be-music-he/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [Music can describe emotions far more accurately than words ever can. As soon as I realised that, I knew music was where I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/music-can-describe-emotions-far-more-accurately-than-words-ever-can/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [When I was very young my mother sang to me at bedtime and my dad would often play the banjo or fiddle in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-block/when-i-was-very-young-my-mother-sang-to-me-at-bedtime-and-my-dad/) [Rory Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-block/) > [I knew music was for me from an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/i-knew-music-was-for-me-from-an-early-age/) [Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/) ## 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 Hearing quotes > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I wonder if you have unprotected phone sex if you can get hearing aids?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/i-wonder-if-you-have-unprotected-phone-sex-if-you-can-get-hearing-aids/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [What is interesting in Washington, D.C., is I've never missed a vote. The veterans' committee keeps track of hearings, and I've never missed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/what-is-interesting-in-washington-d-c-is-i-ve-never-missed-a-vote-the/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Oh, but there's such a difference between saying a thing yourself and hearing other people say it,' wailed Anne. 'You may know a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-but-there-s-such-a-difference-between-saying-a-thing-yourself-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im hearing what you say but I just cant make a sound. You tell me that you need me then you go and cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-hearing-what-you-say-but-i-just-cant-make-a-sound-you-tell-me-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-collect-my-tools-sight-smell-touch-taste-hearing-intellect-night/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I always felt like the only messaging I was hearing around faith was, you need to be perfect or you can leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramy-youssef/i-always-felt-like-the-only-messaging-i-was-hearing-around-faith-was/) [Ramy Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramy-youssef/) > [To the newcomer to the south, hearing that a coworker plans a weekend visit to 'mama and them's' (the correct plural possessive, don'tchaknow), might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-rivenbark/to-the-newcomer-to-the-south-hearing-that-a-coworker-plans-a-weekend/) [Celia Rivenbark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-rivenbark/) > [If I could ever be on a Missy Elliott record, I could then die. Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige - I love hearing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/if-i-could-ever-be-on-a-missy-elliott-record-i-could-then-die-missy/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [My pet peeve is hearing a knock on the bathroom door followed by the familiar words, 'What are you doing in there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-scalf-linamen/my-pet-peeve-is-hearing-a-knock-on-the-bathroom-door-followed-by-the/) [Karen Scalf Linamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-scalf-linamen/) > [I never get tired of hearing the great testimonies of people whom God has touched. I pray that the changes God has done in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-the-great-testimonies-of-people-whom-god/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [During the four years I had spent in New York, I had achieved top status as a model and had worked for the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/during-the-four-years-i-had-spent-in-new-york-i-had-achieved-top/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) [Browse all 2,377 Hearing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Indians long ago knew that music was going on permanently and that hearing it was like looking out a window at a landscape which didn't stop when one turned away.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cage" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was-going-on-permanently-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hearing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was-going-on-permanently-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/john-cage-2094_hearing_the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was_2016421.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/john-cage-2094_hearing_the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was_2016421.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/john-cage-2094_hearing_the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was_2016421.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Indians long ago knew that music was going on permanently and that hearing it was like looking out a…” — 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": "The Indians long ago knew that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was-going-on-permanently-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-indians-long-ago-knew-that-music-was-going-on-permanently-and/#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 } } ] } ```