--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a matter of keeping people on a…" description: "\"It's a matter of keeping people on a spontaneous edge.\" — John Zorn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/john-zorn-11273_matter_it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spo_450086.jpg" --- # It's a matter of keeping people on a spontaneous edge. ![“It's a matter of keeping people on a spontaneous edge.” quote by John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/john-zorn-11273_matter_it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spo_450086.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/john-zorn-11273_matter_it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spo_450086.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/john-zorn-11273_matter_it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spo_450086.jpg) > “It's a matter of keeping people on a spontaneous edge.” [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He keeps audiences engaged by maintaining spontaneity and surprise. **In simple terms:** He creates tension through spontaneous moments. Key Takeaway Cultivate spontaneity to keep people attentive. Themes creativity engagement performance Mood energetic experimental Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - live concerts - theatre - workshops - team meetings Key Concepts improvisation audience dynamics energy management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance structure and surprise? - When does spontaneity become distraction? A Different Perspective Spontaneity can cause chaos if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Spontaneity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneity/) [Spontaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneous/) ## Related quotes > [I try to shoot the first rehearsal because people are more spontaneous. People in real life don't really know where they are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-try-to-shoot-the-first-rehearsal-because-people-are-more/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [“To Sethe, the future was a matter of keeping the past at bay”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/to-sethe-the-future-was-a-matter-of-keeping-the-past-at-bay/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/singing-has-always-seemed-to-me-the-most-perfect-means-of-expression/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [If the mind is calm, your spontaneity and honest thoughts appear. You become more spontaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chade-meng-tan/if-the-mind-is-calm-your-spontaneity-and-honest-thoughts-appear-you/) [Chade-Meng Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chade-meng-tan/) > [Dismiss thoughts of 'good, bad, right, wrong, success, failure' - be spontaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-l-goldberg/dismiss-thoughts-of-good-bad-right-wrong-success-failure-be/) [Joshua L. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-l-goldberg/) > [Just the pleasure of moving and the pleasure of using your body is, I think, maybe the main point. And the pleasure of dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-paxton/just-the-pleasure-of-moving-and-the-pleasure-of-using-your-body-is-i/) Steve Paxton > [“Being spontaneous is being able to respond with confidence; calmly trusting that, whatever the outcome, you will have a positive if challenging experience that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-clare/being-spontaneous-is-being-able-to-respond-with-confidence-calmly/) [Sylvia Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-clare/) > [“You can't be spontaneous within reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-delabarrera/you-can-t-be-spontaneous-within-reason/) Brittany DeLaBarrera > [I don't write any of my material down. I like to improvise and be spontaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/i-don-t-write-any-of-my-material-down-i-like-to-improvise-and-be/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [There is no sex without a cue. People who date have their cues at home, before they meet. You think about where to go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/there-is-no-sex-without-a-cue-people-who-date-have-their-cues-at-home/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [“I have seen travel plans happen only when they were made overnight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/i-have-seen-travel-plans-happen-only-when-they-were-made-overnight/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [“The goal of any spiritual person is to strive towards attaining self-realization by living spontaneously in the present moment of physical reality, free from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/the-goal-of-any-spiritual-person-is-to-strive-towards-attaining-self/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Love can flourish only as long as it is free and spontaneous; it tends to be killed by the thought of duty. To say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/love-can-flourish-only-as-long-as-it-is-free-and-spontaneous-it-tends/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The growth of the intellect is spontaneous in every expansion. The mind that grows could not predict the times, the means, the mode of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-growth-of-the-intellect-is-spontaneous-in-every-expansion-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am neither spontaneous nor ready for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/i-am-neither-spontaneous-nor-ready-for-anything/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) ## More by John Zorn > [I have no doubts. I know what gets in the way and I know what encourages me to do more work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-have-no-doubts-i-know-what-gets-in-the-way-and-i-know-what/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I was always an outsider, proud of being an outsider. I always reveled in the outsiders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-was-always-an-outsider-proud-of-being-an-outsider-i-always-reveled/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I have art. I have music. I have the history, this legacy behind me that I can look up to. This is what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-have-art-i-have-music-i-have-the-history-this-legacy-behind-me-that/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [You can't sit down and write 300 compositions in a three-month period and think that you're doing it all by yourself. Obviously, there's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/you-can-t-sit-down-and-write-300-compositions-in-a-three-month-period/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [One of the reasons I started Tzadik, which is my own label, is to keep things in print. I got tired of labels dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/one-of-the-reasons-i-started-tzadik-which-is-my-own-label-is-to-keep/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [That is a lot of the reason I do what I do, to really spread the word and spread information and turn people onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/that-is-a-lot-of-the-reason-i-do-what-i-do-to-really-spread-the-word/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [People sometimes have a very hard time accepting change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/people-sometimes-have-a-very-hard-time-accepting-change/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I feel like there are messages. I feel like there are angels. I feel that there is a legacy and an energy. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-feel-like-there-are-messages-i-feel-like-there-are-angels-i-feel/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I don't ascribe to the idea of the ivory tower composer who sits alone in a room composing his masterpieces and then comes down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-don-t-ascribe-to-the-idea-of-the-ivory-tower-composer-who-sits/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [Well, in Japan, I have got a group of musicians that I have worked with a lot, that concentrate just on the hardcore stuff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/well-in-japan-i-have-got-a-group-of-musicians-that-i-have-worked-with/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I have wit in my work and a sense of humor, but I do not use irony in any way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-have-wit-in-my-work-and-a-sense-of-humor-but-i-do-not-use-irony-in/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I don't control it at all. It's all up to the musicians in the group. They control it. They make all the cues, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-don-t-control-it-at-all-it-s-all-up-to-the-musicians-in-the-group/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I'm constantly tortured, and that's why I say happiness is irrelevant. Happiness is for children and yuppies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-m-constantly-tortured-and-that-s-why-i-say-happiness-is-irrelevant/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I'm not a practicing kabbalist. I'm not a spiritual master. I'm not a rabbi. I don't - but it's part of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-m-not-a-practicing-kabbalist-i-m-not-a-spiritual-master-i-m-not-a/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [You need to believe in something that's bigger than yourself. I think that's what everybody wants to believe in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/you-need-to-believe-in-something-that-s-bigger-than-yourself-i-think/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) [Explore all 60 John Zorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) ## More Matter quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [No matter what I do I'll always be stuck on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-stalin/no-matter-what-i-do-i-ll-always-be-stuck-on-you/) [J Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-stalin/) > [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I think everyone will agree that it doesn't matter how we get to an international tournament. We are going to do whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/i-think-everyone-will-agree-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-we-get-to-an/) [John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) Browse all 23,868 Matter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a matter of keeping people on a spontaneous edge.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Zorn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spontaneous-edge/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Matter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spontaneous-edge/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/john-zorn-11273_matter_it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spo_450086.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/john-zorn-11273_matter_it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spo_450086.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/john-zorn-11273_matter_it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spo_450086.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a matter of keeping people on a spontaneous edge.” — John Zorn", "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 Zorn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's a matter of keeping people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spontaneous-edge/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spontaneous-edge/#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 } } ] } ```