--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And I understood why he didn’t need…" description: "\"“And I understood why he didn’t need friends or to be accepted at our shitty racist high school, because he had his music, and that was so much better ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/matthew-quick-1377_acceptance_and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-frie_2189601.jpg" --- # And I understood why he didn’t need friends or to be… ![“And I understood why he didn’t need friends or to be accepted at our shitty racist high school, because he had his music, and that was so much better than anything we had to offer.” quote by Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/matthew-quick-1377_acceptance_and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-frie_2189601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/matthew-quick-1377_acceptance_and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-frie_2189601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/matthew-quick-1377_acceptance_and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-frie_2189601.jpg) > ““And I understood why he didn’t need friends or to be accepted at our shitty racist high school, because he had his music, and that was so much better than anything we had to offer.”” [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music can replace social acceptance, offering personal fulfillment and identity. **In simple terms:** Music can be a better companion than friends. Key Takeaway Seek meaning through creative passions. Themes music loneliness identity Mood introspective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - high school - social isolation - creative pursuits Key Concepts self‑expression artistic fulfillment social alienation Questions to Reflect On - What does music give you that relationships don’t? - Can art replace social needs? A Different Perspective Not everyone finds music as fulfilling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) ## Related quotes > [My first show in high school was 'The Music Man.' I was a junior. I played Harold Hill. I did the role at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-henry/my-first-show-in-high-school-was-the-music-man-i-was-a-junior-i/) [Joshua Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-henry/) > [I did the marching band all throughout junior high and high school. Music was one of my favorite things in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/i-did-the-marching-band-all-throughout-junior-high-and-high-school/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [My mom is an elementary-school music teacher. For her, music is an educational tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-dacus/my-mom-is-an-elementary-school-music-teacher-for-her-music-is-an/) [Lucy Dacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-dacus/) > [For me, my number one priority always has to be the music, and I'm going to work school around my music - not music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-mccreery/for-me-my-number-one-priority-always-has-to-be-the-music-and-i-m/) [Scotty McCreery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-mccreery/) > [I remember I was in music class, I was a senior in high school, and my music teacher was like, "You should be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mcdonald/i-remember-i-was-in-music-class-i-was-a-senior-in-high-school-and-my/) [Heather McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mcdonald/) > [In the Negro melodies of America I find all that is needed for a great and noble school of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-dvorak/in-the-negro-melodies-of-america-i-find-all-that-is-needed-for-a/) [Antonin Dvorak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-dvorak/) > [I didn't grow up with any kind of music lessons, which is what I wanted. You've got to pay for these things. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naughty-boy/i-didn-t-grow-up-with-any-kind-of-music-lessons-which-is-what-i/) [Naughty Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naughty-boy/) > [I just started as a part of the public school music program. I took lessons at the school every Friday and was a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-just-started-as-a-part-of-the-public-school-music-program-i-took/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [When budget cuts happen - which has been happening a lot in this country - after-school athletics and after-school music are some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/when-budget-cuts-happen-which-has-been-happening-a-lot-in-this/) [J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [I never even went to high school because I went straight from middle school into the music business. I don't really know what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/i-never-even-went-to-high-school-because-i-went-straight-from-middle/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > [I grew up always around music through my father - I would play in music studios with him as I was growing up -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domino-kirke/i-grew-up-always-around-music-through-my-father-i-would-play-in-music/) [Domino Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domino-kirke/) > [I don't think I would have become President if it were not for my school music program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-become-president-if-it-were-not-for-my/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I might not have been President if it hadn't been for school music. Learning improves in school environments where there are comprehensive music programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-might-not-have-been-president-if-it-hadn-t-been-for-school-music/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I was fortunate enough in my public school that they had a full music program, and no one escaped it. It was treated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-was-fortunate-enough-in-my-public-school-that-they-had-a-full-music/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [My parents were both high-school music teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-parents-were-both-high-school-music-teachers/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) ## More by Matthew Quick > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [Life is not a PG feel-good movie. Real life often ends badly. Literature tries to document this reality, while showing us it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/life-is-not-a-pg-feel-good-movie-real-life-often-ends-badly/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [Maybe my movie isn't over, I say, because sometimes moviemakers trick the audience with a false bad ending, and just when you think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/maybe-my-movie-isn-t-over-i-say-because-sometimes-moviemakers-trick/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [“Like maybe he really, truly believes I'm worth listening to, worth saving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/like-maybe-he-really-truly-believes-i-m-worth-listening-to-worth/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [...I am now watching the movie of my life as I live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-am-now-watching-the-movie-of-my-life-as-i-live-it/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [You need to make time for family no matter what happens in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/you-need-to-make-time-for-family-no-matter-what-happens-in-your-life/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [When she needed help most, she was abandoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/when-she-needed-help-most-she-was-abandoned/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I am so happy. I am so impossibly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-am-so-happy-i-am-so-impossibly-happy/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [“the only way you could meet my crazy was by doing something crazy for yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/the-only-way-you-could-meet-my-crazy-was-by-doing-something-crazy-for/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [When I travel round the country, people can't place my accent; if there's someone in the audience, they'll be like, 'You're from Philadelphia', but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/when-i-travel-round-the-country-people-can-t-place-my-accent-if-there/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [“Empiezo a comprender que tenemos una clase de amistad en la que no se necesitan muchas palabras.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/empiezo-a-comprender-que-tenemos-una-clase-de-amistad-en-la-que-no-se/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [When she needed help most, she was abandoned--and only when she offered help to others was she beloved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/when-she-needed-help-most-she-was-abandoned-and-only-when-she-offered/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [“Sounds like the start of a beautiful friendship, Leonard. It really does.” “Here’s looking at you, kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/sounds-like-the-start-of-a-beautiful-friendship-leonard-it-really/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [“The whole time I pretend I have mental telepathy. And with my mind only, I’ll say — or think? — to the target, 'Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/the-whole-time-i-pretend-i-have-mental-telepathy-and-with-my-mind/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [Someday an opportunity will come. Think about Harry Potter. His life is terrible, but then a letter arrives, he gets on a train, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/someday-an-opportunity-will-come-think-about-harry-potter-his-life-is/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) [Explore all 240 Matthew Quick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And I understood why he didn’t need friends or to be accepted at our shitty racist high school, because he had his music, and that was so much better than anything we had to offer.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Quick" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-friends-or-to-be-accepted-at-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-friends-or-to-be-accepted-at-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/matthew-quick-1377_acceptance_and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-frie_2189601.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/matthew-quick-1377_acceptance_and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-frie_2189601.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/matthew-quick-1377_acceptance_and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-frie_2189601.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And I understood why he didn’t need friends or to be accepted at our shitty racist high school, because he…” — Matthew Quick", "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": "Matthew Quick", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“And I understood why he didn’t...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-friends-or-to-be-accepted-at-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/and-i-understood-why-he-didn-t-need-friends-or-to-be-accepted-at-our/#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 } } ] } ```