--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never call myself modern or…" description: "\"I never call myself modern or traditional, in our out, new or used, because I prefer not to be hemmed in by rigid definitions.\" — Kenny Werner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/kenny-werner-29952_definitions_i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditiona_916449.png" --- # I never call myself modern or traditional, in our out, new… ![“I never call myself modern or traditional, in our out, new or used, because I prefer not to be hemmed in by rigid definitions.” quote by Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/kenny-werner-29952_definitions_i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditiona_916449.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/kenny-werner-29952_definitions_i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditiona_916449.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/kenny-werner-29952_definitions_i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditiona_916449.png) > “I never call myself modern or traditional, in our out, new or used, because I prefer not to be hemmed in by rigid definitions.” [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid rigid labels; stay flexible to embrace both tradition and innovation. **In simple terms:** Don’t be boxed by definitions. Key Takeaway Embrace fluid identity. Themes flexibility identity creativity Mood thoughtful open‑minded Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - artistic work - career changes - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What labels help you grow? - When does flexibility hinder progress? A Different Perspective Being too fluid can cause indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [That was the peak. I just knew it was modern, not traditional culture. I could be cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-peng/that-was-the-peak-i-just-knew-it-was-modern-not-traditional-culture-i/) [Li Peng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-peng/) > [I have been to this point unwilling to sign on to same-sex marriage primarily because of my understandings of the traditional definitions of marriage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-have-been-to-this-point-unwilling-to-sign-on-to-same-sex-marriage/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I submit that the traditional definition of psychiatry, which is still vogue, places it alongside such things as alchemy and astrology, and commits it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-szasz/i-submit-that-the-traditional-definition-of-psychiatry-which-is-still/) [Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/) > [I think it's best if there's an amendment that goes on the ballot where the people can weigh in. Every time this issue has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-think-it-s-best-if-there-s-an-amendment-that-goes-on-the-ballot/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [The geometry reveals five development direction for applications (each with endless possibilities); dividing, dwelling, trestle, fenestration and artistic installation. I find these enabled designs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dror-benshetrit/the-geometry-reveals-five-development-direction-for-applications-each/) Dror Benshetrit > [I will say that the God concept is at the heart of 2001 but not any traditional, anthromorphic image of God. I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/i-will-say-that-the-god-concept-is-at-the-heart-of-2001-but-not-any/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [Audiences looking for a rich, textured, cinematic experience will be put off and disconcerted by an image that looks more like an advanced version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-turan/audiences-looking-for-a-rich-textured-cinematic-experience-will-be/) [Kenneth Turan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-turan/) > [It would be flattering to call it a modern Dirty Harry, but I think this film deals more with the loss of his wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/it-would-be-flattering-to-call-it-a-modern-dirty-harry-but-i-think/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [My mother was a children's librarian. I remember when traditional stories were revised for modern audiences until they bore only a nodding acquaintance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/my-mother-was-a-children-s-librarian-i-remember-when-traditional/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Amongst the many definitions, there is one that may be generally agreed upon: modernity is the epoch in which simply being modern became a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianni-vattimo/amongst-the-many-definitions-there-is-one-that-may-be-generally/) [Gianni Vattimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianni-vattimo/) > [Other Definitions of Worry Anxiety is the great modern plague. But faith can cure it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smiley-blanton/other-definitions-of-worry-anxiety-is-the-great-modern-plague-but/) [Smiley Blanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smiley-blanton/) > [Documentary is, therefore, an approach, which makes use of the artistic faculties to give vivification to fact - to use Walt Whitman's definition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beaumont-newhall/documentary-is-therefore-an-approach-which-makes-use-of-the-artistic/) [Beaumont Newhall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beaumont-newhall/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [When it comes to dating, Im straightforward and traditional with a twist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-pasqualino/when-it-comes-to-dating-im-straightforward-and-traditional-with-a/) [Luke Pasqualino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-pasqualino/) ## More by Kenny Werner > [Nothing in music is hard, just unfamiliar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/nothing-in-music-is-hard-just-unfamiliar/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [There is no easy or difficult; only familiar and unfamiliar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/there-is-no-easy-or-difficult-only-familiar-and-unfamiliar/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [In many cases, the decision to study music has robbed them of the ability to play music. They have lost respect for music that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/in-many-cases-the-decision-to-study-music-has-robbed-them-of-the/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [“A quiet mind allows the artist to tap into the wellspring of Divine Music within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/a-quiet-mind-allows-the-artist-to-tap-into-the-wellspring-of-divine/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [If one's life depends on doing something right, as in the case of the tightrope walker, one will practice on a much deeper level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/if-one-s-life-depends-on-doing-something-right-as-in-the-case-of-the/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [“Seeking new levels of technical mastery should be a life long pursuit - not because you want to impress, but to facilitate any direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/seeking-new-levels-of-technical-mastery-should-be-a-life-long-pursuit/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [Intellect has to surrender to instinct when it is time to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/intellect-has-to-surrender-to-instinct-when-it-is-time-to-play/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [We are all part of a universal game. Returning to our essence while living in the world is the object of the game. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/we-are-all-part-of-a-universal-game-returning-to-our-essence-while/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [Ultimately, musicians of the world must come to realize the potential of their calling... If the musician is illuminated from within, he becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/ultimately-musicians-of-the-world-must-come-to-realize-the-potential/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [In fear, we expect; with love, we accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/in-fear-we-expect-with-love-we-accept/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [It is good to view things as familiar or unfamiliar, rather than as difficult or easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/it-is-good-to-view-things-as-familiar-or-unfamiliar-rather-than-as/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [Fear closes all doors to the true self, that brilliant center where the ecstasy lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/fear-closes-all-doors-to-the-true-self-that-brilliant-center-where/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [“Ultimately, musicians of the world must come realise the potential of their calling. Like the shamans, we may serve as healers, metaphysicians, inciters, exciters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/ultimately-musicians-of-the-world-must-come-realise-the-potential-of/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [Just before I play, I like to feel that no-one has ever played the piano before, that I'm in complete virgin territory, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/just-before-i-play-i-like-to-feel-that-no-one-has-ever-played-the/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [Mastery is playing whatever you're capable of playing-every time-WITHOUT THINKING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/mastery-is-playing-whatever-you-re-capable-of-playing-every-time/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) [Explore all 18 Kenny Werner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) ## More Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My briefest ever definition of science fiction is 'Hubris clobbered by Nemesis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/my-briefest-ever-definition-of-science-fiction-is-hubris-clobbered-by/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-accumulation-of-all-powers-legislative-executive-and-judiciary-in/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [A design may be called organic when there is an harmonious organization of the parts within the whole, according to structure, material, and purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-noyes/a-design-may-be-called-organic-when-there-is-an-harmonious/) Eliot Noyes > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) Browse all 2,047 Definitions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never call myself modern or traditional, in our out, new or used, because I prefer not to be hemmed in by rigid definitions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenny Werner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditional-in-our-out-new-or-used/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Definitions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditional-in-our-out-new-or-used/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/kenny-werner-29952_definitions_i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditiona_916449.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/kenny-werner-29952_definitions_i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditiona_916449.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/kenny-werner-29952_definitions_i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditiona_916449.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never call myself modern or traditional, in our out, new or used, because I prefer not to be hemmed in by…” — Kenny Werner", "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": "Kenny Werner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never call myself modern or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditional-in-our-out-new-or-used/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/i-never-call-myself-modern-or-traditional-in-our-out-new-or-used/#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 } } ] } ```