Discipline Quote by Michael Ondaatje
““But there was a discipline, it was just that we didn't understand. We thought he was formless, but I think now he was tormented by order, what was outside it. He tore apart the plot - see his music was immediately on top of his own life. Echoing. As if, when he was playing he was lost and hunting for the right accidental notes. Listening to him was like talking to Coleman. You were both changing direction with every sentence, sometimes in the middle, using each other as a springboard through the dark. You were moving so fast it was unimportant to finish and clear everything. He would be describing something in 27 ways. There was pain and gentleness everything jammed into each number.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Music, 2015
The musician’s creative process is chaotic, driven by an inner conflict between order and freedom, producing intense, fragmented expression.
In simple terms: Creative chaos stems from inner tension between order and freedom.
Key Takeaway
Embrace disorder to unlock authentic expression.
Themes
creativity
conflict
expression
music
art
Mood
intense
reflective
inspired
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- composing
- performing
- listening
- collaborating
- teaching
Key Concepts
psychology
improvisation
dualism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tension fuel your creativity?
- Can you find balance between order and spontaneity?
A Different Perspective
The approach may be overwhelming for those who prefer structure.
![“[He]talks so fast that listening to him is like trying to read Playboy magazine with your wife turning the pages.” quote by Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0aa/barry-goldwater-3353_marriage_he-talks-so-fast-that-listening-to-him-i_1435622.jpg)
