--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I think beautiful is simple and…" description: "\"But I think beautiful is simple and elegant, like a ballad with simple harmony.\" — John Fogerty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/john-fogerty-10725_ballads_but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-eleg_2092898.jpg" --- # But I think beautiful is simple and elegant, like a ballad… ![“But I think beautiful is simple and elegant, like a ballad with simple harmony.” quote by John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/john-fogerty-10725_ballads_but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-eleg_2092898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/john-fogerty-10725_ballads_but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-eleg_2092898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/john-fogerty-10725_ballads_but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-eleg_2092898.jpg) > “But I think beautiful is simple and elegant, like a ballad with simple harmony.” [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Beauty can be uncomplicated and harmonious, like a simple song. **In simple terms:** Simple things can be beautiful. Key Takeaway Seek elegance in simplicity. Themes beauty simplicity artistry music Mood appreciative thoughtful Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - design - writing - songwriting - visual arts Key Concepts aesthetics aesthetic minimalism creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What simple element in your life feels most beautiful? - When does simplicity become bland? A Different Perspective Simplicity may overlook depth; complexity can also be beautiful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballads/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Elegant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elegant/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing that makes sense is if the universe is beautiful and simple and elegant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-garrett-lisi/the-only-thing-that-makes-sense-is-if-the-universe-is-beautiful-and/) [Antony Garrett Lisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-garrett-lisi/) > [But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/but-what-is-happiness-except-the-simple-harmony-between-a-man-and-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Keep your jewelry and outfits simple and elegant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/keep-your-jewelry-and-outfits-simple-and-elegant/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) > [My wife and I love to host wine and cheese parties. They are simple and elegant and you don't have to put a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-florence/my-wife-and-i-love-to-host-wine-and-cheese-parties-they-are-simple/) [Tyler Florence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-florence/) > [I think for the women of today, because we work and go around a lot, Armani is ideal - simple and elegant at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-think-for-the-women-of-today-because-we-work-and-go-around-a-lot/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [With the Solaris, however, I wanted to design a very simple, elegant dress watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-newson/with-the-solaris-however-i-wanted-to-design-a-very-simple-elegant/) [Marc Newson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-newson/) > [I'm all about simple, elegant, and effective, and when I wear the rubber boot on my head, it draws a lot of attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vermin-supreme/i-m-all-about-simple-elegant-and-effective-and-when-i-wear-the-rubber/) [Vermin Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vermin-supreme/) > [I don't like directing a lot of people. So trying to keep things really simple and elegant is my preferred way of working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-mae-weems/i-don-t-like-directing-a-lot-of-people-so-trying-to-keep-things/) [Carrie Mae Weems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-mae-weems/) > [People say I am a classic designer. I don't try to be classic, but I do try to be simple and elegant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-de-givenchy/people-say-i-am-a-classic-designer-i-don-t-try-to-be-classic-but-i-do/) [Hubert de Givenchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-de-givenchy/) > [Halle Berry's style is simple and elegant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-lewis/halle-berry-s-style-is-simple-and-elegant/) [Denise Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-lewis/) > [We Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/we-greeks-are-lovers-of-the-beautiful-yet-simple-in-our-tastes-and-we/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Life is beautiful, it becomes more and more simple because of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-beautiful-it-becomes-more-and-more-simple-because-of-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being beautiful is not in the way you dress nor on the pigments you put in your face. Being beautiful is being simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-beautiful-is-not-in-the-way-you-dress-nor-on-the-pigments-you-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most luxurious item is a beautiful bed and beautiful, simple sheets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/the-most-luxurious-item-is-a-beautiful-bed-and-beautiful-simple-sheets/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) > [Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature because in her inventions nothing is lacking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/human-subtlety-will-never-devise-an-invention-more-beautiful-more/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) ## More by John Fogerty > [Even though I have often recorded alone, I still feel the best music is made by musicians playing off each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/even-though-i-have-often-recorded-alone-i-still-feel-the-best-music/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [Usually I just let my songs do the talking. As a matter of fact I have long had an aversion to celebrities endorsing politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/usually-i-just-let-my-songs-do-the-talking-as-a-matter-of-fact-i-have/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [What happens is, especially when I was writing for my band, Creedence, and it's the way I write now, I go into "guitar lick"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/what-happens-is-especially-when-i-was-writing-for-my-band-creedence/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [All the really great records or people who made them somehow came from Memphis or Louisiana or somewhere along the Mississippi River...And singers like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/all-the-really-great-records-or-people-who-made-them-somehow-came/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [I've long ago learned that if an idea will stand on its own, it'll stand having the light shone on it. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/i-ve-long-ago-learned-that-if-an-idea-will-stand-on-its-own-it-ll/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [And I now think that Stratocasters and Telecasters are way cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/and-i-now-think-that-stratocasters-and-telecasters-are-way-cool/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [It just seemed like all the records I have made since Creedence Clearwater Revival have all been sort of pushed off center. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/it-just-seemed-like-all-the-records-i-have-made-since-creedence/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [I stuck with that size because I could bend the strings so well, and somewhere along the line I must have gotten it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/i-stuck-with-that-size-because-i-could-bend-the-strings-so-well-and/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [I think at times the very strong feelings I have about my country coincide with my musical ability, and I'm able to actually turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/i-think-at-times-the-very-strong-feelings-i-have-about-my-country/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [Let the people know my wisdom, fill the land with smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/let-the-people-know-my-wisdom-fill-the-land-with-smoke/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [When I'm standing at the Pearly Gates, I want to say to God, 'Don't look at the records. Look at my family. I'm much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/when-i-m-standing-at-the-pearly-gates-i-want-to-say-to-god-don-t-look/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [I ain't got no time for a Caribbean cruise, just give me a song and a beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/i-ain-t-got-no-time-for-a-caribbean-cruise-just-give-me-a-song-and-a/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [I'm now comfortable playing a lot of the old songs, and I've gotten out a lot of the old equipment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/i-m-now-comfortable-playing-a-lot-of-the-old-songs-and-i-ve-gotten/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [With the Michael Moore movie, certain conservative talk show hosts call him un-American. Him and anybody else who says anything about the war... To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/with-the-michael-moore-movie-certain-conservative-talk-show-hosts/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [The only sliding I did was on the kind of instrument that you put on your lap; no Spanish electrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/the-only-sliding-i-did-was-on-the-kind-of-instrument-that-you-put-on/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) [Explore all 64 John Fogerty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) ## More Ballads quotes > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I think that ballads are always something where I can really become one with the audiance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namie-amuro/i-think-that-ballads-are-always-something-where-i-can-really-become/) [Namie Amuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namie-amuro/) > [I realized that what I was looking for was doing collaborations with other people - people who can play a ballad, rock, jazz. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-realized-that-what-i-was-looking-for-was-doing-collaborations-with/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Maybe you could put it out there that I don't have a built-in dislike of ballads. That was kind of the reputation I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/maybe-you-could-put-it-out-there-that-i-don-t-have-a-built-in-dislike/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [On 'Idol,' I understood that everyone wanted to hear my vocals, so I stuck with the ballads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sanchez/on-idol-i-understood-that-everyone-wanted-to-hear-my-vocals-so-i/) [Jessica Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sanchez/) > [Some of my other heroes around that time were, oddly enough, Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole and people like that - I was always more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bell/some-of-my-other-heroes-around-that-time-were-oddly-enough-frank/) [William Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bell/) > [People were saying that Southern folk song was dead, that the land that had produced American jazz, the blues, the spirituals, the mountain ballads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lomax/people-were-saying-that-southern-folk-song-was-dead-that-the-land/) [Alan Lomax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lomax/) > [I got a chance to get an actual label. I performed this slow song, this ballad I have. I just remember going to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-got-a-chance-to-get-an-actual-label-i-performed-this-slow-song-this/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [My music is a reflection of what I really love to listen to, pop, dance, mid tempo dance and ballads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/my-music-is-a-reflection-of-what-i-really-love-to-listen-to-pop-dance/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [My love was Bob Dylan, but as I got older I realized a good ballad was a good ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/my-love-was-bob-dylan-but-as-i-got-older-i-realized-a-good-ballad-was/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [People who listen to my records expect the ballads from me. The rock 'n roll is on there because it's another mode of expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/people-who-listen-to-my-records-expect-the-ballads-from-me-the-rock-n/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [“...singing ballads whose words had never known paper but lived only on the rasping edge of their own voices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/singing-ballads-whose-words-had-never-known-paper-but-lived-only-on/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [If we hooked up, he could write me ballads and stuff. You gotta admit, nothing's sexier than a guy who writes music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/if-we-hooked-up-he-could-write-me-ballads-and-stuff-you-gotta-admit/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I would start off with a lively rag, then would come a ballad, followed by a comedy song and a novelty number, and finally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-tucker/i-would-start-off-with-a-lively-rag-then-would-come-a-ballad-followed/) [Sophie Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-tucker/) > [It was very romantic. It's all in the song, The Ballad of John and Yoko. If you want to know how it happened, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/it-was-very-romantic-it-s-all-in-the-song-the-ballad-of-john-and-yoko/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) [Browse all 192 Ballads quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballads/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But I think beautiful is simple and elegant, like a ballad with simple harmony.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Fogerty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-elegant-like-a-ballad-with-simple/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ballads" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-elegant-like-a-ballad-with-simple/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/john-fogerty-10725_ballads_but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-eleg_2092898.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/john-fogerty-10725_ballads_but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-eleg_2092898.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/john-fogerty-10725_ballads_but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-eleg_2092898.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But I think beautiful is simple and elegant, like a ballad with simple harmony.” — John Fogerty", "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 Fogerty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But I think beautiful is simple...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-elegant-like-a-ballad-with-simple/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/but-i-think-beautiful-is-simple-and-elegant-like-a-ballad-with-simple/#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 } } ] } ```