--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't sit down and write 300…" description: "\"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 goin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/john-zorn-11273_being_you-can-t-sit-down-and-write-300-composi_129760.jpg" --- # You can't sit down and write 300 compositions in a… ![“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 going on here. And whether you want to call it channeling or being connected to a creative force or knowing your history and knowing where you belong…” quote by John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/john-zorn-11273_being_you-can-t-sit-down-and-write-300-composi_129760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/john-zorn-11273_being_you-can-t-sit-down-and-write-300-composi_129760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/john-zorn-11273_being_you-can-t-sit-down-and-write-300-composi_129760.jpg) > “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 going on here. And whether you want to call it channeling or being connected to a creative force or knowing your history and knowing where you belong, that's, you know, maybe a personal thing.” [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. Creative output often feels guided by external forces or collective history, not solely personal effort. **In simple terms:** Creativity feels linked to larger forces. Key Takeaway Acknowledge collaborative inspiration. Themes creativity history connection Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - writing - music composition Key Concepts artistic process spiritual influence Practical Applications - recognize influences - allow collaborative flow Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel ownership of your work? - How do you balance personal voice with influence? A Different Perspective Attribution can diminish personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [300 Compositions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/300-compositions-1491970/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong/) [Call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/call/) [Channeling Connected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/channeling-connected-1491973/) [Compositions Month](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compositions-month-1491971/) [Connected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connected/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Obviously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obviously/) [Period](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/period/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) [Personal thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-thing/) [Sit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit/) [Sit Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-write-250639/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write 300](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-300-1491972/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [I create work, and I devote myself to the creative process, and I try to stay pure in that process and be worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-create-work-and-i-devote-myself-to-the-creative-process-and-i-try-2/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I think that the best part of music is when it comes from a real place and has an ability to kind of connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel/i-think-that-the-best-part-of-music-is-when-it-comes-from-a-real/) [Miguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel/) > [People’s stories are the most personal thing they have, and paying attention to those stories is just about the most important thing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-deresiewicz/people-s-stories-are-the-most-personal-thing-they-have-and-paying/) [William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-deresiewicz/) > [I think politics are a very personal thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-politics-are-a-very-personal-thing/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [It's a personal thing whether one wants to be on social media or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/it-s-a-personal-thing-whether-one-wants-to-be-on-social-media-or-not/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [It's the most personal thing that I do is sing. Because I can't tell a lie. I want them to know exactly what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/it-s-the-most-personal-thing-that-i-do-is-sing-because-i-can-t-tell-a/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [Being happy is a very personal thing-and it really has nothing to do with anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/being-happy-is-a-very-personal-thing-and-it-really-has-nothing-to-do/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“Faith is a very personal thing, really. Just because you don’t meet with a group of people once a week who believe everything exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-n-holmberg/faith-is-a-very-personal-thing-really-just-because-you-don-t-meet/) [Charlie N. Holmberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-n-holmberg/) > [Music is such an intensely personal thing for me, and I knew if I was going to do it, it would be in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-ryan/music-is-such-an-intensely-personal-thing-for-me-and-i-knew-if-i-was/) [Debby Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-ryan/) > [I would say my return to my faith is - it's a very personal thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-would-say-my-return-to-my-faith-is-it-s-a-very-personal-thing/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Writing a song is a personal thing, and you have to have a lot of trust to try things and not be embarrassed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stone/writing-a-song-is-a-personal-thing-and-you-have-to-have-a-lot-of/) [Julia Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stone/) > [Maybe it's just a personal thing, but I get so much grounding from Iceland because I know it's always going to be there. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/maybe-it-s-just-a-personal-thing-but-i-get-so-much-grounding-from/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [Whenever I play against Arsenal - and this is just a personal thing - I go up and think 'let me whack the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/whenever-i-play-against-arsenal-and-this-is-just-a-personal-thing-i/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) > [My music is a personal thing, and I feel like if I talk too much about the songs, or if there's too much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washed-out/my-music-is-a-personal-thing-and-i-feel-like-if-i-talk-too-much-about/) [Washed Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washed-out/) > [Design is a very personal thing. It's like art. Your personal choice plays a big role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gauri-khan/design-is-a-very-personal-thing-it-s-like-art-your-personal-choice/) [Gauri Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gauri-khan/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [It's a matter of keeping people on a spontaneous edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spontaneous-edge/) [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 Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 going on here. 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