--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I've made something really serene…" description: "\"If I've made something really serene... well, if everything is like that, it's like having too much icing on your cake. You need something else under i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/jon-hopkins-6720_cake_if-i-ve-made-something-really-serene-wel_1956201.jpg" --- # If I've made something really serene... well, if… ![“If I've made something really serene... well, if everything is like that, it's like having too much icing on your cake. You need something else under it, some kind of grounding. It's like if you're making a film, you can't have only happy moments, or else they become meaningless.” quote by Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/jon-hopkins-6720_cake_if-i-ve-made-something-really-serene-wel_1956201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/jon-hopkins-6720_cake_if-i-ve-made-something-really-serene-wel_1956201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/jon-hopkins-6720_cake_if-i-ve-made-something-really-serene-wel_1956201.jpg) > “If I've made something really serene... well, if everything is like that, it's like having too much icing on your cake. You need something else under it, some kind of grounding. It's like if you're making a film, you can't have only happy moments, or else they become meaningless.” [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art needs contrast; without grounding, constant happiness feels meaningless. **In simple terms:** Too much happiness feels empty. Key Takeaway Balance joy with depth for meaningful art. Themes creativity balance meaning Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - music production - film scoring - visual arts Key Concepts artistic expression emotional range storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How do you create grounding in your work? - What contrast enhances your art? A Different Perspective Some audiences prefer pure positivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-mom/) [Happy moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-moments/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [“Wise people, after they have listened to the laws, become serene, like a deep, smooth, and still lake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/wise-people-after-they-have-listened-to-the-laws-become-serene-like-a/) Various > [Dont spoil the happy moments that you can make , for we dont know what will happen in the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenniferlim/dont-spoil-the-happy-moments-that-you-can-make-for-we-dont-know-what/) Jenniferlim > [“This is eminently true of many happy moments in life. Freed from the demands of decision and intention, adrift on some inner sea, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/this-is-eminently-true-of-many-happy-moments-in-life-freed-from-the/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [I became aware of just how fleeting the sense of happiness was, and how flimsy its basis: a warm restaurant after having come in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/i-became-aware-of-just-how-fleeting-the-sense-of-happiness-was-and/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [I want to: refresh my mind delete all my problem. undo all my mistakes, and save the happy moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-refresh-my-mind-delete-all-my-problem-undo-all-my-mistakes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“(the past sucks and the future can be outright paralyzing, but we must push through those times and find what little happy moments there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-sucks-and-the-future-can-be-outright-paralyzing-but-we-must/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“the kind of sadness we tolerate because it appears at happy moments”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel-v-squez/the-kind-of-sadness-we-tolerate-because-it-appears-at-happy-moments/) [Juan Gabriel Vásquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel-v-squez/) > [“Your emotions will wander like a vagabond when you're indebted. Those happy moments with friends will soon be interrupted with a frowning creditor in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/your-emotions-will-wander-like-a-vagabond-when-you-re-indebted-those/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Life like piano, white keys are happy moments. Black keys are sad moments but remember both keys are played together to give sweet music...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-like-piano-white-keys-are-happy-moments-black-keys-are-sad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The point is not that my life is one long golden summer which I am simply too self-absorbed to appreciate (although it might be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/the-point-is-not-that-my-life-is-one-long-golden-summer-which-i-am/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Sometimes I find that in my happy moments I could not believe that I had ever been miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-milner/sometimes-i-find-that-in-my-happy-moments-i-could-not-believe-that-i/) [Marion Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-milner/) > [“Billy stayed in the wagon when it reached the slaughterhouse, sunning himself. The others went looking for souvenirs. Later on in life, the Tralfamadorians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/billy-stayed-in-the-wagon-when-it-reached-the-slaughterhouse-sunning/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Refresh your mind... Delete all your problems, undo all your mistakes, and save all the happy moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/refresh-your-mind-delete-all-your-problems-undo-all-your-mistakes-and/) Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom > [I'll always remember the memories we had. All the happy moments and even the sad ones. I'll keep them deep down inside. I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-el-hallab/i-ll-always-remember-the-memories-we-had-all-the-happy-moments-and/) [Mahmoud El Hallab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-el-hallab/) > [Music plays the big role in my life.. It made happy moments even more better, and helped me when I felt like it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-plackovic/music-plays-the-big-role-in-my-life-it-made-happy-moments-even-more/) [Dejan Plackovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-plackovic/) ## More by Jon Hopkins > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [My own personality is fairly optimistic and generally very happy, but like everyone else I've been through difficult stuff, particularly in my teenage years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/my-own-personality-is-fairly-optimistic-and-generally-very-happy-but/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I always make sure there's something for the audience to connect to, in terms of my movements relating to the sounds being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-always-make-sure-there-s-something-for-the-audience-to-connect-to/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I've always lived in my head, which is very easy to do when you live and work in a city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-ve-always-lived-in-my-head-which-is-very-easy-to-do-when-you-live/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [The track 'Open Eye Signal,' when you hear that choir sound come in, that's actually me singing but sped up and with huge reverb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/the-track-open-eye-signal-when-you-hear-that-choir-sound-come-in-that/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [What kind of music keeps its relevance? That's why I purposely try and avoid any particularly current trends in electronic music. I do actively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/what-kind-of-music-keeps-its-relevance-that-s-why-i-purposely-try-and/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I always liked the idea of shaving the back of my head and getting a tattoo of my own face there so that, whichever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-always-liked-the-idea-of-shaving-the-back-of-my-head-and-getting-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [It's extraordinary to hear from people who are bereaved, or gone through a divorce, and they still take the time to tell me how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/it-s-extraordinary-to-hear-from-people-who-are-bereaved-or-gone/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [Learning how to be calm and centered in any situation is a skill for life, whatever you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/learning-how-to-be-calm-and-centered-in-any-situation-is-a-skill-for/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [When you've got hardly any equipment, very little money and no access to any information, your sound is very much dictated by you, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/when-you-ve-got-hardly-any-equipment-very-little-money-and-no-access/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I'm actually a big fan of turning off my phone and ignoring it for large chunks of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-m-actually-a-big-fan-of-turning-off-my-phone-and-ignoring-it-for/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [Sometimes I think elements of 'Open Eye Signal' are better live. I do this really crazy stuff at the end, but I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/sometimes-i-think-elements-of-open-eye-signal-are-better-live-i-do/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [Sometimes I hear records that are being recorded at the absolute highest quality, and I just don't like the sound of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/sometimes-i-hear-records-that-are-being-recorded-at-the-absolute/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [When I was 23, I felt like I was further back than when I was 21. After two solo albums for this small indie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/when-i-was-23-i-felt-like-i-was-further-back-than-when-i-was-21-after/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [Whenever I've improved, gone up a level in sound-making, it's been because I've done an album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/whenever-i-ve-improved-gone-up-a-level-in-sound-making-it-s-been/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) [Explore all 98 Jon Hopkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) ## More Cake quotes > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) Ludwig Erhard > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Baby I love you like a fat kid loves cake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/baby-i-love-you-like-a-fat-kid-loves-cake/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of people are programmed to think, 'Oh, I want to do this, but I also want this.' It's like they want everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metro-boomin/a-lot-of-people-are-programmed-to-think-oh-i-want-to-do-this-but-i/) [Metro Boomin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metro-boomin/) > [Happy Birthday To Me,I just turned twenty three(23),I want a new Puppy, And I'll name it Julie:) Chocolate cake anyone all I have leftover,,,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/happy-birthday-to-me-i-just-turned-twenty-three-23-i-want-a-new-puppy/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [It's strange because pandan cake isn't hard to make but yet it can only be bought in Singapore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/it-s-strange-because-pandan-cake-isn-t-hard-to-make-but-yet-it-can/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [Let them eat cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoinette/let-them-eat-cake/) [Marie Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoinette/) > [“I bring the leftovers to rehearsal, and Ms. Albright lets us have a cake picnic on the stage. And by cake picnic, I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/i-bring-the-leftovers-to-rehearsal-and-ms-albright-lets-us-have-a/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [Your favorite kind of cake can't be birthday cake, that's like saying your favorite kind of cereal is breakfast cereal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/your-favorite-kind-of-cake-can-t-be-birthday-cake-that-s-like-saying/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [“We went for a walk on College Street and popped into Coco's for a snack. There, I revealed my future, much like the exquisitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-rosen/we-went-for-a-walk-on-college-street-and-popped-into-coco-s-for-a/) Amy Rosen > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [Sam loved to listen to music and make his own songs, to wear soft velvets, to play in the castle kitchen beside the cooks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sam-loved-to-listen-to-music-and-make-his-own-songs-to-wear-soft/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Photographing a cake can be art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-penn/photographing-a-cake-can-be-art/) [Irving Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-penn/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) Browse all 1,341 Cake quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I've made something really serene... well, if everything is like that, it's like having too much icing on your cake. 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