--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The artist knows how to sing, not how to…" description: "\"The artist knows how to sing, not how to count.\" — Juan Gabriel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/juan-gabriel-16812_art_the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to_3083613.jpg" --- # The artist knows how to sing, not how to count. ![“The artist knows how to sing, not how to count.” quote by Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/juan-gabriel-16812_art_the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to_3083613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/juan-gabriel-16812_art_the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to_3083613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/juan-gabriel-16812_art_the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to_3083613.jpg) > “The artist knows how to sing, not how to count.” [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An artist's strength lies in emotive performance rather than technical calculation. **In simple terms:** Artists should focus on feeling, not counting. Key Takeaway Prioritize feeling over precision. Themes art emotion performance creativity intuition Mood passionate thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - live singing - songwriting - stage presence - improvisational performance Key Concepts expressive authenticity musical intuition creative spontaneity Questions to Reflect On - Can you convey emotion without technical skill? - How do you balance feeling and precision? A Different Perspective Technical skill still matters for consistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-knows-506348/) [Count](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/count/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Knows Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-sing-1706188/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Sing Count](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-count-5270382/) ## Related quotes > [You know, once somebody knows you can sing Elphaba, it's like being able to sing Evita - people shut up about it already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-gasteyer/you-know-once-somebody-knows-you-can-sing-elphaba-it-s-like-being/) [Ana Gasteyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-gasteyer/) > [Any true musician, true artist, knows that when they're in that point of total artistic creation, whether on stage or in the studio or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ashcroft/any-true-musician-true-artist-knows-that-when-they-re-in-that-point/) [Richard Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ashcroft/) > [The stupid believe that to be truthful is easy; only the artist, the great artist, knows how difficult it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-stupid-believe-that-to-be-truthful-is-easy-only-the-artist-the/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [The artist is the only one who knows that the world is a subjective creation, that there is a choice to be made, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-artist-is-the-only-one-who-knows-that-the-world-is-a-subjective/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [One travels so as to learn once more how to marvel at life in the way a child does. And blessed be the poet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-maillart/one-travels-so-as-to-learn-once-more-how-to-marvel-at-life-in-the-way/) [Ella Maillart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-maillart/) > [ Because Ivy \[Wilkes\] is just starting out as an artist, I wanted to focus on \[Georgia\] O'Keeffe's experiences when she was just starting out.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/because-ivy-wilkes-is-just-starting-out-as-an-artist-i-wanted-to/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [The superior artist is the one who knows how to be influenced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-greenberg/the-superior-artist-is-the-one-who-knows-how-to-be-influenced/) [Clement Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-greenberg/) > [The artist knows he must be alone to create; the writer, to work out his thoughts; the musician, to compose; the saint, to pray.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/the-artist-knows-he-must-be-alone-to-create-the-writer-to-work-out/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [A painter knows how to paint, but an artist knows when to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-hill/a-painter-knows-how-to-paint-but-an-artist-knows-when-to-stop/) [Jae Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-hill/) > [I don't think of myself as just a pop artist, but someone who knows she has a bigger meaning. I'm not doing this for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-just-a-pop-artist-but-someone-who-knows/) [Robyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn/) > [The ideal artist is he who knows everything, feels everything, experiences everything, and retains his experience in a spirit of wonder and feeds upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bellows/the-ideal-artist-is-he-who-knows-everything-feels-everything/) [George Bellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bellows/) > [No artist knows everything... but since every artist knows more than he can tell, all art is lying by omission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/no-artist-knows-everything-but-since-every-artist-knows-more-than-he/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [A craftsman knows in advance what the finished result will be, while the artist knows only what it will be when he has finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/a-craftsman-knows-in-advance-what-the-finished-result-will-be-while/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The sensitive artist knows that a bitter wind is blowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/the-sensitive-artist-knows-that-a-bitter-wind-is-blowing/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [I know what I want, and I know what needs to be done to make my performance better. So I do these little askings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/i-know-what-i-want-and-i-know-what-needs-to-be-done-to-make-my/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) ## More by Juan Gabriel > [The most wonderful thing in life is to do something for a child because they're children for such a short time. We can't allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/the-most-wonderful-thing-in-life-is-to-do-something-for-a-child/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [I think, today, television is asking too many loaded questions, pushing further for ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/i-think-today-television-is-asking-too-many-loaded-questions-pushing/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [I'm a person who, when I set out to write, I write. It's just like when you set out to eat, you eat, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/i-m-a-person-who-when-i-set-out-to-write-i-write-it-s-just-like-when/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [Since I was sent to an orphanage, and I saw very little of my mother, I can counsel mothers that you shouldn't abandon your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/since-i-was-sent-to-an-orphanage-and-i-saw-very-little-of-my-mother-i/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [I compose songs with a lot of simplicity because my school has been the streets, and people have been my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/i-compose-songs-with-a-lot-of-simplicity-because-my-school-has-been/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [Art is feminine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/art-is-feminine/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [You don't ask about what can be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/you-don-t-ask-about-what-can-be-seen/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [Mexico is known throughout the world thanks to mariachi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/mexico-is-known-throughout-the-world-thanks-to-mariachi/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [What I say is what I feel, whether anyone likes it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/what-i-say-is-what-i-feel-whether-anyone-likes-it-or-not/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [There are no rules when I compose songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/there-are-no-rules-when-i-compose-songs/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [I think I am an artist. I think I am Juan Gabriel, who has given so much with my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/i-think-i-am-an-artist-i-think-i-am-juan-gabriel-who-has-given-so/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [I don't believe in anything, only in myself, but I respect all people who believe in something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/i-don-t-believe-in-anything-only-in-myself-but-i-respect-all-people/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [To transcend and be yourself... I have no reason to tell you, and others, something that is not of interest to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/to-transcend-and-be-yourself-i-have-no-reason-to-tell-you-and-others/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [I enjoy every moment because I believe that once we die, that's it. We're not coming back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/i-enjoy-every-moment-because-i-believe-that-once-we-die-that-s-it-we/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [Work is my best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/work-is-my-best-friend/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) [Explore all 38 Juan Gabriel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [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/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The artist knows how to sing, not how to count.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Juan Gabriel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to-count/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to-count/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/juan-gabriel-16812_art_the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to_3083613.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/juan-gabriel-16812_art_the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to_3083613.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/juan-gabriel-16812_art_the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to_3083613.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The artist knows how to sing, not how to count.” — Juan Gabriel", "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": "Juan Gabriel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The artist knows how to sing,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to-count/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/the-artist-knows-how-to-sing-not-how-to-count/#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 } } ] } ```