--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One cannot listen to different pieces of…" description: "\"“One cannot listen to different pieces of music at the same time, a real comprehension of the beautiful being possible only through concentration upon ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/kakuz-okakura-14816_music_one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of_1887393.jpg" --- # One cannot listen to different pieces of music at the same… ![“One cannot listen to different pieces of music at the same time, a real comprehension of the beautiful being possible only through concentration upon some central motive.” quote by Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/kakuz-okakura-14816_music_one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of_1887393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/kakuz-okakura-14816_music_one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of_1887393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/kakuz-okakura-14816_music_one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of_1887393.jpg) > ““One cannot listen to different pieces of music at the same time, a real comprehension of the beautiful being possible only through concentration upon some central motive.”” [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding beauty requires focused attention on a central theme, not scattered listening to many. **In simple terms:** Focus reveals beauty. Key Takeaway Cultivate deep concentration. Themes focus beauty concentration Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - listening to music - art criticism - meditation - studying literature Key Concepts aesthetic appreciation mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does concentration change your perception of art? - What central motives guide your attention? A Different Perspective Hard to maintain focus in noisy environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Evolution of consciousness is the central motive of terrestrial existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/evolution-of-consciousness-is-the-central-motive-of-terrestrial/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [I believe absolutely in love being the central motive force of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-housman/i-believe-absolutely-in-love-being-the-central-motive-force-of-the/) [Laurence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-housman/) > [A lot of music doesn't do one thing or another. It just doesn't do anything. Then there are those pieces of music that thrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/a-lot-of-music-doesn-t-do-one-thing-or-another-it-just-doesn-t-do/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [I didn't want my music to be seen as examples of an electronic culture; I just wanted them to be thought of as pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lansky/i-didn-t-want-my-music-to-be-seen-as-examples-of-an-electronic/) [Paul Lansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lansky/) > [Sometimes I just listen to classical pieces of music to take me away from my work. That's what I kind of do to wash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-zigman/sometimes-i-just-listen-to-classical-pieces-of-music-to-take-me-away/) [Aaron Zigman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-zigman/) > [There are certain pieces of music that are always attached to certain books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/there-are-certain-pieces-of-music-that-are-always-attached-to-certain/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [The time I like listening to music most on headphones is, I have a game I play with my brother, he's a musician as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/the-time-i-like-listening-to-music-most-on-headphones-is-i-have-a/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Too many pieces of music finish too long after the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/too-many-pieces-of-music-finish-too-long-after-the-end/) [Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/) > [I still don't believe that all pieces of music are the same price. I just don't think that's America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-still-don-t-believe-that-all-pieces-of-music-are-the-same-price-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I make a lot of pieces of music that I never release as CDs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-make-a-lot-of-pieces-of-music-that-i-never-release-as-cds/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I find that when my plays are going well, they seem to resemble pieces of music. But if I had to go into specifics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-find-that-when-my-plays-are-going-well-they-seem-to-resemble-pieces/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [“Some pieces of music, I like them so much, I wonder why they have to end, and if I had the strength, I'd keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-gordon/some-pieces-of-music-i-like-them-so-much-i-wonder-why-they-have-to/) Amy Gordon > [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Kakuzō Okakura > [“Nothing is more hallowing than the union of kindred spirits in art. At the moment of meeting, the art lover transcends himself. At once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/nothing-is-more-hallowing-than-the-union-of-kindred-spirits-in-art-at/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“Welcome to thee, O sword of eternity! Through Buddha And through Daruma alike Thou hast cleft thy way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/welcome-to-thee-o-sword-of-eternity-through-buddha-and-through-daruma/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“Our standards of morality are begotten of the past needs of society, but is society to remain always the same?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/our-standards-of-morality-are-begotten-of-the-past-needs-of-society/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“At the magic touch of the beautiful the secret chords of our being are awakened, we vibrate and thrill in response to its call.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/at-the-magic-touch-of-the-beautiful-the-secret-chords-of-our-being/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“Have you not noticed that the wild flowers are becoming scarcer every year? It may be that their wise men have told them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/have-you-not-noticed-that-the-wild-flowers-are-becoming-scarcer-every/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“Behold the complacent salesman retailing the Good and True. One can even buy a so-called Religion, which is really but common morality sanctified with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/behold-the-complacent-salesman-retailing-the-good-and-true-one-can/) [Kakuzo Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“Sad as it is, we cannot conceal the fact that in spite of our companionship with flowers we have not risen very far above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/sad-as-it-is-we-cannot-conceal-the-fact-that-in-spite-of-our/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“The claims of contemporary art cannot be ignored in any vital scheme of life. The art of to-day is that which really belongs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/the-claims-of-contemporary-art-cannot-be-ignored-in-any-vital-scheme/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“We are ever brutal to those who love and serve us in silence, but the time may come when, for our cruelty, we shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/we-are-ever-brutal-to-those-who-love-and-serve-us-in-silence-but-the/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“Our standards of morality are begotten of the past needs of society, but is society to remain always the same? The observance of communal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/our-standards-of-morality-are-begotten-of-the-past-needs-of-society-2/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“The masterpiece is symphony played upon our finest feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/the-masterpiece-is-symphony-played-upon-our-finest-feelings/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“In art, the present is the eternal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/in-art-the-present-is-the-eternal/) [Kakuzo Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“We must know the whole play in order to properly act our parts; the conception of totality must never be lost in that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/we-must-know-the-whole-play-in-order-to-properly-act-our-parts-the/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“These Taoists' ideas have greatly influenced all our theories of action, even to those of fencing and wrestling. Jiu-jitsu, the Japanese art of self-defence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/these-taoists-ideas-have-greatly-influenced-all-our-theories-of/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“New York City vagrant: "What sort of 'nese are you people? Are you Chinese, or Japanese, or Javanese?" Kakuzo Okakura responds: "We are Japanese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/new-york-city-vagrant-what-sort-of-nese-are-you-people-are-you/) [Kakuzo Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) [Explore all 43 Kakuzō Okakura quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) ## More Concentration quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“Exceptional work is always associated with periods of deep concentration. Nothing excellent ever comes from a scattered effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/exceptional-work-is-always-associated-with-periods-of-deep/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [Mental attitude and concentration are the keys to pitching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferguson-jenkins/mental-attitude-and-concentration-are-the-keys-to-pitching/) Ferguson Jenkins > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I can let go of a lot of stuff, but I focus on things I think I should, like dancing, because it takes 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuan-yuan-tan/i-can-let-go-of-a-lot-of-stuff-but-i-focus-on-things-i-think-i-should/) [Yuan Yuan Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuan-yuan-tan/) > [“Apply the blacksmith's homely principle when you are speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/apply-the-blacksmith-s-homely-principle-when-you-are-speaking-if-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Mindfulness develops attention, concentration and the ability to simply be present with little or no future orientation, past orientation or goal orientation—choosing to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gawler/mindfulness-develops-attention-concentration-and-the-ability-to/) Ian Gawler > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [... programming requires more concentration than other activities. It's the reason programmers get upset about 'quick interruptions' - such interruptions are tantamount to asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/programming-requires-more-concentration-than-other-activities-it-s/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Our mind is a flowing something. It oscillates. Concentration is merely the continuous return to the same problem from a million angles… So my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-laubach/our-mind-is-a-flowing-something-it-oscillates-concentration-is-merely/) [Frank Laubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-laubach/) [Browse all 1,154 Concentration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One cannot listen to different pieces of music at the same time, a real comprehension of the beautiful being possible only through concentration upon some central motive.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kakuzō Okakura" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of-music-at-the-same-time-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concentration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of-music-at-the-same-time-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/kakuz-okakura-14816_music_one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of_1887393.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/kakuz-okakura-14816_music_one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of_1887393.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/kakuz-okakura-14816_music_one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of_1887393.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One cannot listen to different pieces of music at the same time, a real comprehension of the beautiful being…” — Kakuzō Okakura", "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": "Kakuzō Okakura", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“One cannot listen to different pieces...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of-music-at-the-same-time-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/one-cannot-listen-to-different-pieces-of-music-at-the-same-time-a/#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 } } ] } ```