--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why is composing symphonies tough? I…" description: "\"Why is composing symphonies tough? I don't know. It's just very few people in the world can do it well. And I think that's the case with upfront design..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/martin-fowler-23964_can-do_why-is-composing-symphonies-tough-i-don_351292.jpg" --- # Why is composing symphonies tough? I don't know. It's just… ![“Why is composing symphonies tough? I don't know. It's just very few people in the world can do it well. And I think that's the case with upfront design. It is very hard to do well.” quote by Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/martin-fowler-23964_can-do_why-is-composing-symphonies-tough-i-don_351292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/martin-fowler-23964_can-do_why-is-composing-symphonies-tough-i-don_351292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/martin-fowler-23964_can-do_why-is-composing-symphonies-tough-i-don_351292.jpg) > “Why is composing symphonies tough? I don't know. It's just very few people in the world can do it well. And I think that's the case with upfront design. It is very hard to do well.” [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Designing complex systems, like symphonies, requires rare talent and disciplined effort. **In simple terms:** Complex design is hard and rare. Key Takeaway Practice and collaborate to improve design skills. Themes software design creativity complexity Mood educational practical Type technical motivational When to use this quote - software architecture - team collaboration - skill development - project planning Key Concepts systems thinking artistic analogy Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to become better at design? - How can teams support each other's growth? A Different Perspective Not everyone can master such design without mentorship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing/) [Composing Symphonies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing-symphonies-3243288/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Design Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design-hard-375062/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Symphonies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symphonies/) [Symphonies Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symphonies-tough-3243289/) [Symphony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symphony/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/all-these-tales-of-people-sitting-down-and-composing-symphonies-just/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [I love classical music and often listen to symphonies or opera in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mapother/i-love-classical-music-and-often-listen-to-symphonies-or-opera-in-the/) [William Mapother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mapother/) > [The majority of my symphonies are tombstones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/the-majority-of-my-symphonies-are-tombstones/) [Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/) > [The nearer I approach the end, the plainer I hear around me the immortal symphonies of the worlds which invite me. It is marvelous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-nearer-i-approach-the-end-the-plainer-i-hear-around-me-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Mathematics is an activity governed by the same rules imposed upon the symphonies of Beethoven, the paintings of DaVinci, and the poetry of Homer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kasner/mathematics-is-an-activity-governed-by-the-same-rules-imposed-upon/) [Edward Kasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kasner/) > [We cannot, after all, judge a biography by its length, by the number of pages in it; we must judge by the richness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/we-cannot-after-all-judge-a-biography-by-its-length-by-the-number-of/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Now I'm having the time of my life being on the road with one of the world's all-time great big bands, and performing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-severinsen/now-i-m-having-the-time-of-my-life-being-on-the-road-with-one-of-the/) [Doc Severinsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-severinsen/) > [I think that of my 21 symphonies, each has its own place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hovhaness/i-think-that-of-my-21-symphonies-each-has-its-own-place/) [Alan Hovhaness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hovhaness/) > [Most Beethoven symphonies require 80 or more instruments, and the late romantics even more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-marriner/most-beethoven-symphonies-require-80-or-more-instruments-and-the-late/) [Neville Marriner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-marriner/) > [Although, I am proud of all my Symphonies as they all have something special to say, my particular favourite is the Fifth. As the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-arnold/although-i-am-proud-of-all-my-symphonies-as-they-all-have-something/) [Malcolm Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-arnold/) > [Symphonies can generate a tremendous amount of sounds, beauty, and emotion. That is part of their human feel and sweetness. Keyboards, on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/symphonies-can-generate-a-tremendous-amount-of-sounds-beauty-and/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [“Outside Soviet Russia, and following the last symphonies of Mahler, Nielsen and Sibelius, an element of obsolescence has unmistakably attached itself to the genre.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-fairclough/outside-soviet-russia-and-following-the-last-symphonies-of-mahler/) [Pauline Fairclough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-fairclough/) > [I attempt to compose symphonies, although it is clear to me that logically it is pointless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-schnittke/i-attempt-to-compose-symphonies-although-it-is-clear-to-me-that/) [Alfred Schnittke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-schnittke/) > [Moving pictures need sound as much as Beethoven symphonies need lyrics,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/moving-pictures-need-sound-as-much-as-beethoven-symphonies-need-lyrics/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [Math is easy; design is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-veen/math-is-easy-design-is-hard/) [Jeffrey Veen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-veen/) ## More by Martin Fowler > [When you actually sit down to write some code, you learn things that you didn't get from thinking about them in modeling terms...there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/when-you-actually-sit-down-to-write-some-code-you-learn-things-that/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [Comprehensiveness is the enemy of comprehensibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/comprehensiveness-is-the-enemy-of-comprehensibility/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [I've learned to always avoid saying "always"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/i-ve-learned-to-always-avoid-saying-always/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [The biggest issue on software teams is making sure everyone understands what everyone else is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/the-biggest-issue-on-software-teams-is-making-sure-everyone/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [I find that writing unit tests actually increases my programming speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/i-find-that-writing-unit-tests-actually-increases-my-programming-speed/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [So I hope I’ve made clear that imposing agile methods is a very red flag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/so-i-hope-i-ve-made-clear-that-imposing-agile-methods-is-a-very-red/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [“... parts of classic MVC don't really make sense for rich clients these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/parts-of-classic-mvc-don-t-really-make-sense-for-rich-clients-these/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [In almost all cases, I’m opposed to setting aside time for refactoring. In my view refactoring is not an activity you set aside time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/in-almost-all-cases-i-m-opposed-to-setting-aside-time-for-refactoring/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [Now I'm a pretty lazy person and am prepared to work quite hard in order to avoid work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/now-i-m-a-pretty-lazy-person-and-am-prepared-to-work-quite-hard-in/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [One of the things I've been trying to do is look for simpler or rules underpinning good or bad design. I think one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/one-of-the-things-i-ve-been-trying-to-do-is-look-for-simpler-or-rules/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [Continuous Integration is a software development practice where members of a team integrate their work frequently, usually each person integrates at least daily -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/continuous-integration-is-a-software-development-practice-where/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [“It Takes Awhile to Create Nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/it-takes-awhile-to-create-nothing/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [Never in the annals of software engineering was so much owed by so many to so few lines of code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/never-in-the-annals-of-software-engineering-was-so-much-owed-by-so/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [It is impossible not to notice Ruby on Rails. It has had a huge effect both in and outside the Ruby community... Rails has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/it-is-impossible-not-to-notice-ruby-on-rails-it-has-had-a-huge-effect/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) > [One of the big dangers is to pretend that you can follow a predictable process when you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/one-of-the-big-dangers-is-to-pretend-that-you-can-follow-a/) [Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) [Explore all 25 Martin Fowler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) [Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why is composing symphonies tough? I don't know. 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