--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is that music is selfish in…" description: "\"The problem is that music is selfish in that you need to make it for yourself, so that you can give it away, and those two things don't jive. I needed ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/josh-homme-16692_away_the-problem-is-that-music-is-selfish-in_625760.jpg" --- # The problem is that music is selfish in that you need to… ![“The problem is that music is selfish in that you need to make it for yourself, so that you can give it away, and those two things don't jive. I needed to find the right reason to play that had the magic and mystery and excitement that made me want to play in the first place.” quote by Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/josh-homme-16692_away_the-problem-is-that-music-is-selfish-in_625760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/josh-homme-16692_away_the-problem-is-that-music-is-selfish-in_625760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/josh-homme-16692_away_the-problem-is-that-music-is-selfish-in_625760.jpg) > “The problem is that music is selfish in that you need to make it for yourself, so that you can give it away, and those two things don't jive. I needed to find the right reason to play that had the magic and mystery and excitement that made me want to play in the first place.” [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating music for personal fulfillment first sharing it creates tension; true motivation must blend self‑expression with generosity. **In simple terms:** Music should be personal yet shared. Key Takeaway Find a purpose that balances self‑interest and generosity. Themes creativity self‑expression generosity Mood reflective inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - live performance - collaborative projects - teaching music Key Concepts artistic motivation psychology of sharing Questions to Reflect On - What drives your creative work? - How can you share without losing personal joy? A Different Perspective Balancing personal drive with altruism can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away/) [Excitement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excitement/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-selfish-1207486/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-music-3266384/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-play-1047930/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-need-774396/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [The problem that I have is with the music business. 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"Because it's fun." (Translated)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riichiro-inagaki/and-the-reason-you-play-american-football-hiruma-san-because-it-s-fun/) [Riichiro Inagaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riichiro-inagaki/) > [If you play music for the right reasons, the rest of the things will come. The right reason to play music is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-benson/if-you-play-music-for-the-right-reasons-the-rest-of-the-things-will/) [George Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-benson/) > [Now it is characteristic of play that one plays without reason and there must be no reason for it. Play is its own good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/now-it-is-characteristic-of-play-that-one-plays-without-reason-and/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [This is the whole reason you play: to win your country a World Cup!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-o-hara/this-is-the-whole-reason-you-play-to-win-your-country-a-world-cup/) [Kelley O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-o-hara/) ## More by Josh Homme > [You wanna be there for everybody, but it's just not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/you-wanna-be-there-for-everybody-but-it-s-just-not-possible/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [When you expect anything from music, you expect too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/when-you-expect-anything-from-music-you-expect-too-much/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [I don't think it's good to run on anger, but it's really great when that's the first couple of gallons in your tank -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/i-don-t-think-it-s-good-to-run-on-anger-but-it-s-really-great-when/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [“I don’t want what I’m afraid of to dictate every move I make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/i-don-t-want-what-i-m-afraid-of-to-dictate-every-move-i-make/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [The first record I bought was a Carl Perkins record, because I saw him at The Festival at Sandpoint, Idaho. I loved Elvis and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/the-first-record-i-bought-was-a-carl-perkins-record-because-i-saw-him/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [When it's time to make music, that's about getting lost for me. To be a control freak is not half as good as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/when-it-s-time-to-make-music-that-s-about-getting-lost-for-me-to-be-a/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [I'm a fairly upbeat and happy guy, you know? I don't like people that feel sorry for themselves, and I traditionally stay away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/i-m-a-fairly-upbeat-and-happy-guy-you-know-i-don-t-like-people-that/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [“It feels wonderful not to have anything to hide behind. It’s scary as shit, but that is okay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/it-feels-wonderful-not-to-have-anything-to-hide-behind-it-s-scary-as/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [Making people uncomfortable is one of my hobbies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/making-people-uncomfortable-is-one-of-my-hobbies/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [Making people uncomfortable is one of my hobbies. I'm always hoping that half the people get the joke and the other half are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/making-people-uncomfortable-is-one-of-my-hobbies-i-m-always-hoping/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [I think you can separate yourself from your fears. You know what you should do, and it's just scary to do it. 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