--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Spirituality is worthless if it's not…" description: "\"Spirituality is worthless if it's not practical. Music is my work. I am a musician.\" — John McLaughlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/john-mclaughlin-10405_ifs_spirituality-is-worthless-if-it-s-not-pr_2320958.jpg" --- # Spirituality is worthless if it's not practical. Music is… ![“Spirituality is worthless if it's not practical. Music is my work. I am a musician.” quote by John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/john-mclaughlin-10405_ifs_spirituality-is-worthless-if-it-s-not-pr_2320958.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/john-mclaughlin-10405_ifs_spirituality-is-worthless-if-it-s-not-pr_2320958.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23f/john-mclaughlin-10405_ifs_spirituality-is-worthless-if-it-s-not-pr_2320958.jpg) > “Spirituality is worthless if it's not practical. Music is my work. I am a musician.” [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spirituality must have practical value; music is the speaker’s vocation and purpose. **In simple terms:** Spiritual ideas need real-world use; music is his work. Key Takeaway Integrate spiritual practice into daily tasks. Themes practicality spirituality music purpose craft utility Mood inspired thoughtful Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - teaching music - performing live - composing - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism artistic philosophy applied spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you make spiritual concepts actionable? - In what ways does music embody your spirituality? A Different Perspective Spirituality without utility may feel empty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-is/) [Music Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-work/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Practical Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-music-5548432/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Spirituality Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality-worthless-5548431/) [Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless/) [Worthless Practical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless-practical-5548433/) ## Related quotes > [I like the idea of letting the music do its own work and the stories being more expressionful - if that's a word -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-like-the-idea-of-letting-the-music-do-its-own-work-and-the-stories/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [For me, there is no day or night for music. I often work through the night - without phone calls disturbing me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/for-me-there-is-no-day-or-night-for-music-i-often-work-through-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [I don't listen to so much music now. I did when I was younger. Music is so much part of my work. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-paige/i-don-t-listen-to-so-much-music-now-i-did-when-i-was-younger-music-is/) [Elaine Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-paige/) > [That makes classical music work, the ability to improvise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/that-makes-classical-music-work-the-ability-to-improvise/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [You must take care of your family, respect the music, and work intensely. Health and family come first, and then you can make much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andris-nelsons/you-must-take-care-of-your-family-respect-the-music-and-work/) [Andris Nelsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andris-nelsons/) > [My taste changes radically all the time, and I listen to whatever feels good. Another thing is that I'm in the studio so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/my-taste-changes-radically-all-the-time-and-i-listen-to-whatever/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [If you can make the family life and the music work together that's wonderful. If you can make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-starr/if-you-can-make-the-family-life-and-the-music-work-together-that-s/) [Edwin Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-starr/) > [“when i sleep - music when i work - music when i workout - music when i do everything - music MUSIC is everything”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ohadugha-golden-o/when-i-sleep-music-when-i-work-music-when-i-workout-music-when-i-do/) [Ohadugha Golden O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ohadugha-golden-o/) > [It's all about the music, and I work as hard as I do strictly because of the music. It's not a money thing; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/it-s-all-about-the-music-and-i-work-as-hard-as-i-do-strictly-because/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I'm trying to find a way to make music work as a living. People used to make their living selling albums. Those days are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hecker/i-m-trying-to-find-a-way-to-make-music-work-as-a-living-people-used/) [Tim Hecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hecker/) > [I would really love to do the score for movies. Pick the music and work with composers. I don't know if I'd be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndsy-fonseca/i-would-really-love-to-do-the-score-for-movies-pick-the-music-and/) [Lyndsy Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndsy-fonseca/) > [I think that within the world of music that we work in, which is so not perfect, I think that you really do have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-condon/i-think-that-within-the-world-of-music-that-we-work-in-which-is-so/) [Zach Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-condon/) > [I am a musician who stopped working with music. Now I work with visual music, or audio-visual music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-ralske/i-am-a-musician-who-stopped-working-with-music-now-i-work-with-visual/) [Kurt Ralske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-ralske/) > [My course is about really working on a sheet of music. You work out the chords, which note complements the other, and how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catriona-gray/my-course-is-about-really-working-on-a-sheet-of-music-you-work-out/) [Catriona Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catriona-gray/) > [I've never been a rap guy, I don't really know that much about rap music, to be honest. I like it, but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/i-ve-never-been-a-rap-guy-i-don-t-really-know-that-much-about-rap/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) ## More by John McLaughlin > [Every day, I discover something utterly unbelievable when I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/every-day-i-discover-something-utterly-unbelievable-when-i-play/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Interplay and interaction are the integral parts of music - they're as important as the notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/interplay-and-interaction-are-the-integral-parts-of-music-they-re-as/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Music is closer to poetry than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/music-is-closer-to-poetry-than-anything/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Miles Davis himself, I discovered him when I was 15, and he rocked my world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/miles-davis-himself-i-discovered-him-when-i-was-15-and-he-rocked-my/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [One of the advantages of playing in a club is that even with bass and drums, the atmosphere remains intimate with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/one-of-the-advantages-of-playing-in-a-club-is-that-even-with-bass-and/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [In a certain sense, these were lessons I learned by playing with Indian musicians. The rhythmic forms that they use are very complex, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/in-a-certain-sense-these-were-lessons-i-learned-by-playing-with/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [The day I stop making music would be the day I keel over, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-day-i-stop-making-music-would-be-the-day-i-keel-over-really/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [The Beatles, they brought a whole new dimension to pop music. Of course, the psychedelic period is much more interesting to me, starting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-beatles-they-brought-a-whole-new-dimension-to-pop-music-of-course/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Absolutely, all guitars are different. You can go into a store and grab five guitars, all the same model, and even though they look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/absolutely-all-guitars-are-different-you-can-go-into-a-store-and-grab/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [To pay attention to flattery or criticism is a waste of time for artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/to-pay-attention-to-flattery-or-criticism-is-a-waste-of-time-for/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [The mathematics of rhythm are universal. They don't belong to any particular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-mathematics-of-rhythm-are-universal-they-don-t-belong-to-any/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [I practice all the scales. Everyone should know lots of scales. Actually, I feel there are only scales. What is a chord, if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/i-practice-all-the-scales-everyone-should-know-lots-of-scales/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Music speaks from spirit to spirit and in that sense you could call it a true spiritual language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/music-speaks-from-spirit-to-spirit-and-in-that-sense-you-could-call/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/only-in-spontaneity-can-we-be-who-we-truly-are/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [I was dealing with a lot of spiritual questions like "Who am I?" "What is God" "What is the meaning of life?" All of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/i-was-dealing-with-a-lot-of-spiritual-questions-like-who-am-i-what-is/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 66 John McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) ## More Ifs quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [If I don't have pressure, I don't function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/if-i-don-t-have-pressure-i-don-t-function/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. 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Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) [Browse all 94,303 Ifs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Spirituality is worthless if it's not practical. Music is my work. 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