--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I start in the middle of a sentence and…" description: "\"I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once.\" — John Coltrane" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/john-coltrane-9542_quote_i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and_932936.jpg" --- # I start in the middle of a sentence and move both… ![“I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once.” quote by John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/john-coltrane-9542_quote_i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and_932936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/john-coltrane-9542_quote_i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and_932936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/john-coltrane-9542_quote_i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and_932936.jpg) > “I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once.” [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) ## 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 improvising by starting mid‑phrase and expanding outward, creating a dynamic, non‑linear musical flow. **In simple terms:** Improvising from the middle outward. Key Takeaway Explore music from any point. Themes improvisation creativity structure innovation Mood experimental introspective Type musical educational When to use this quote - live solo - composition class - creative brainstorming Key Concepts Non‑linear thinking musical symmetry spontaneity Questions to Reflect On - How does starting mid‑phrase affect listener perception? - Can this method apply to writing? A Different Perspective May be confusing without a clear anchor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [One wants recovery to start from the bottom, and the other wants it to start from the top. I don't know which is right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/one-wants-recovery-to-start-from-the-bottom-and-the-other-wants-it-to/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [You don't start at the top if you want to find the story. You start in the middle, because it's the people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/you-don-t-start-at-the-top-if-you-want-to-find-the-story-you-start-in/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [A beautiful word in the middle of a sentence can sometimes reduce me to tears in an interview, and when I'm reading, too. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-silverblatt/a-beautiful-word-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-can-sometimes-reduce-me/) [Michael Silverblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-silverblatt/) > [Oh, I'm sorry...did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beging of yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/oh-i-m-sorry-did-the-middle-of-my-sentence-interrupt-the-beging-of/) Author Name > [Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize middle of my sentence was interrupting the beginning of yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-i-m-sorry-i-didn-t-realize-middle-of-my-sentence-was-interrupting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best kind of kiss is the un-expected ; un-planned ones that come naturally . like in the middle of a sentence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-kind-of-kiss-is-the-un-expected-un-planned-ones-that-come/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm sorry. Did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-sorry-did-the-middle-of-my-sentence-interrupt-the-beginning-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Rabo Karabekian: I'm in the middle of a sentence. Circe Berman: Who isn't?.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/rabo-karabekian-i-m-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-circe-berman-who-isn-t/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [With this recitation of paraphernalia and detritus, O'Brien manages to encapsulate the experience of an army and of a particular war, of a mined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-prose/with-this-recitation-of-paraphernalia-and-detritus-o-brien-manages-to/) [Francine Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-prose/) > [The best way to hang up on someone is to do it in the middle of YOUR OWN sentence. That way, they never suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-way-to-hang-up-on-someone-is-to-do-it-in-the-middle-of-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Consider failure as just a comma in the middle of a sentence that tells the story of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-o-leary/consider-failure-as-just-a-comma-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-that/) [Jeff O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-o-leary/) > [I work every day until I do not have more to say. I learned from Graham Greene that a very good way is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/i-work-every-day-until-i-do-not-have-more-to-say-i-learned-from/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“If “OK” meant that “it’s all right to get up now,” it makes sense that Pip would respond when she heard it. So if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/if-ok-meant-that-it-s-all-right-to-get-up-now-it-makes-sense-that-pip/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [The rules of capitalization are so unfair to words in the middle of a sentence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-rules-of-capitalization-are-so-unfair-to-words-in-the-middle-of-a/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Variation on the middle sentence: A thing is not necessarily false because it is badly expressed, nor true because it is expressed magnificently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/variation-on-the-middle-sentence-a-thing-is-not-necessarily-false/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) ## More by John Coltrane > [In any situation that we find in our lives, when there is something that we feel should be better, we must exert effort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/in-any-situation-that-we-find-in-our-lives-when-there-is-something/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/during-the-year-1957-i-experienced-by-the-grace-of-god-a-spiritual/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [I think that music, being an expression of the human heart, or of the human being itself, does express just what is happening -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-think-that-music-being-an-expression-of-the-human-heart-or-of-the/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [I believe that men are here to grow themselves into best good that they can be - at least, this is what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-believe-that-men-are-here-to-grow-themselves-into-best-good-that/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [My goal is to live the truly religious life, and express it in my music. If you live it, when you play there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/my-goal-is-to-live-the-truly-religious-life-and-express-it-in-my/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [Any time you play your horn, it helps you. If you get down, you can help yourself even in a rock 'n' roll band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/any-time-you-play-your-horn-it-helps-you-if-you-get-down-you-can-help/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [Considering the great heritage in music that we have - the work of the giants of the past, the present, and the promise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/considering-the-great-heritage-in-music-that-we-have-the-work-of-the/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [Invest yourself in eveything you do. Theres no fun in being serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/invest-yourself-in-eveything-you-do-theres-no-fun-in-being-serious/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [Damn the rules, it's the feeling that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/damn-the-rules-it-s-the-feeling-that-counts/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [Sometimes I wish I could walk up to my music for the first time, as if I had never heard it before. Being so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/sometimes-i-wish-i-could-walk-up-to-my-music-for-the-first-time-as-if/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [My music is the spiritual expression of what I am — my faith, my knowledge, my being...When you begin to see the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/my-music-is-the-spiritual-expression-of-what-i-am-my-faith-my/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [Sheets of sound. Well, that was when I got tired of certain modulations. Like when you want to get back to C, and you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/sheets-of-sound-well-that-was-when-i-got-tired-of-certain-modulations/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [I think I know what it is but don't ask me to play it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-think-i-know-what-it-is-but-don-t-ask-me-to-play-it/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [The first time I heard Bird play, it hit me right between the eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/the-first-time-i-heard-bird-play-it-hit-me-right-between-the-eyes/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [I want to be the force which is truly for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-want-to-be-the-force-which-is-truly-for-good/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) [Explore all 72 John Coltrane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) ## More Middle quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [Rampant eclecticism is my middle name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/rampant-eclecticism-is-my-middle-name/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Going to a site with more users seems obviously better to me, but at the same time, having a bland, middle of the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-rudder/going-to-a-site-with-more-users-seems-obviously-better-to-me-but-at/) [Christian Rudder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-rudder/) > [I can get runs much faster if I stay there in the middle to give bowlers more time and cushion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-rahul/i-can-get-runs-much-faster-if-i-stay-there-in-the-middle-to-give/) [K. L. Rahul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-l-rahul/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [One of the unique things is that whether we were out at sea or in the middle of the water tank, a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/one-of-the-unique-things-is-that-whether-we-were-out-at-sea-or-in-the/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love making movies, and being in any that I can be in. I'd like to be in those giant movies, as the fifth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-love-making-movies-and-being-in-any-that-i-can-be-in-i-d-like-to-be/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I used to be so self-conscious of having a unibrow. I would make my mum tweeze out the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/i-used-to-be-so-self-conscious-of-having-a-unibrow-i-would-make-my/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) > [You don't know whether he's thought through how this is going to affect the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/you-don-t-know-whether-he-s-thought-through-how-this-is-going-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) Browse all 6,397 Middle quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Coltrane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and-move-both-directions-at-once/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Middle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and-move-both-directions-at-once/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/john-coltrane-9542_quote_i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and_932936.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/john-coltrane-9542_quote_i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and_932936.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/john-coltrane-9542_quote_i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and_932936.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once.” — John Coltrane", "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 Coltrane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I start in the middle of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and-move-both-directions-at-once/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/i-start-in-the-middle-of-a-sentence-and-move-both-directions-at-once/#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 } } ] } ```