--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great conductor is always a despot by…" description: "\"The great conductor is always a despot by temperament and intractable in his ways. ... The artist is obliged to keep his laughter and tears to himself...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/nadia-boulanger-17786_art_the-great-conductor-is-always-a-despot-b_1467043.jpg" --- # The great conductor is always a despot by temperament and… ![“The great conductor is always a despot by temperament and intractable in his ways. ... The artist is obliged to keep his laughter and tears to himself. If they want to emerge, in spite of himself, then he must hide them or unleash them in someone else.” quote by Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/nadia-boulanger-17786_art_the-great-conductor-is-always-a-despot-b_1467043.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/nadia-boulanger-17786_art_the-great-conductor-is-always-a-despot-b_1467043.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/nadia-boulanger-17786_art_the-great-conductor-is-always-a-despot-b_1467043.jpg) > “The great conductor is always a despot by temperament and intractable in his ways. ... The artist is obliged to keep his laughter and tears to himself. If they want to emerge, in spite of himself, then he must hide them or unleash them in someone else.” [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A conductor’s strong will can dominate, while artists must internalize emotions, releasing them only through their work. **In simple terms:** Conductors are controlling; artists hide feelings. Key Takeaway Balance authority with emotional authenticity. Themes leadership artistic expression emotional restraint creativity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - orchestra rehearsal - creative writing - film directing - team management - personal therapy Key Concepts psychology music leadership dynamics emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When should a leader share personal emotions? - How can artists safely express vulnerability? A Different Perspective The view may neglect collaborative aspects of artistic creation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Conductor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conductor/) [Despot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despot/) [Despots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despots/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Temperament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament/) ## Related quotes > [A great conductor possesses that certain charisma and talent that demand the ears and the attention of an audience. I can't tell you how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/a-great-conductor-possesses-that-certain-charisma-and-talent-that/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [“understand that to be truly successful I need to be like a conductor of people, many of whom (if not all) can play their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/understand-that-to-be-truly-successful-i-need-to-be-like-a-conductor/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [A great conductor is an alchemical force: someone who can absorb the historical weight of a famous melody, the expectations of an audience, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/a-great-conductor-is-an-alchemical-force-someone-who-can-absorb-the/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [In times of anarchy one may seem a despot in order to be a saviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-de-riqueti-marquis-de-mirabeau/in-times-of-anarchy-one-may-seem-a-despot-in-order-to-be-a-saviour/) [Victor de Riqueti, marquis de Mirabeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-de-riqueti-marquis-de-mirabeau/) > [Power is the test. Some, once they have it, are content to buy the show of liking, and punish those who withhold it; then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/power-is-the-test-some-once-they-have-it-are-content-to-buy-the-show/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [If it's a despot you would dethrone, see first that his throne erected within you is destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-it-s-a-despot-you-would-dethrone-see-first-that-his-throne-erected/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Imagination is the mightiest despot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berthold-auerbach/imagination-is-the-mightiest-despot/) [Berthold Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berthold-auerbach/) > [Peace /n/: A rare state which has only existed when a despot has been fearsome or strong enough to impose it. The image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-rice/peace-n-a-rare-state-which-has-only-existed-when-a-despot-has-been/) [Boyd Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-rice/) > [A free and open Internet is a despot's worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-samit/a-free-and-open-internet-is-a-despot-s-worst-enemy/) [Jay Samit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-samit/) > [Fashion, n. A despot whom the wise ridicule and obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/fashion-n-a-despot-whom-the-wise-ridicule-and-obey/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Nothing is more durable than the dynasty of Doubt; for he reigns in the hearts of all his people, but gives satisfaction to none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/nothing-is-more-durable-than-the-dynasty-of-doubt-for-he-reigns-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Every State is a despotism, be the despot one or many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/every-state-is-a-despotism-be-the-despot-one-or-many/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [There are three kinds of despots. There is the despot who tyrannizes over the body. There is the despot who tyrannizes over the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-are-three-kinds-of-despots-there-is-the-despot-who-tyrannizes/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A country governed by a despot is an inverted cone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-country-governed-by-a-despot-is-an-inverted-cone/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Nadia Boulanger > [Nothing is better than music; when it takes us out of time, it has done more for us than we have the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/nothing-is-better-than-music-when-it-takes-us-out-of-time-it-has-done/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [Do nothing for effect. Do it for truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/do-nothing-for-effect-do-it-for-truth/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [A great work of art is made out of a combination of obedience and liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/a-great-work-of-art-is-made-out-of-a-combination-of-obedience-and/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [Do not take up music unless you would rather die than not do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/do-not-take-up-music-unless-you-would-rather-die-than-not-do-so/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [It is one thing to be gifted and quite another thing to be worthy of one's own gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/it-is-one-thing-to-be-gifted-and-quite-another-thing-to-be-worthy-of/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [As far as the execution is concerned ... the most frequent and most serious mistake is to follow the music instead of preceding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/as-far-as-the-execution-is-concerned-the-most-frequent-and-most/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [I adore tradition. I cannot stand habit. Simply to repeat is nothing, also to destroy is nothing. Tradition is never interrupted, we are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/i-adore-tradition-i-cannot-stand-habit-simply-to-repeat-is-nothing/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [The history of harmony is the history of the development of the human ear, which has gradually assimilated, in their natural order, the successive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/the-history-of-harmony-is-the-history-of-the-development-of-the-human/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [In music everything is prolonged, everything is edified, and when the enchantment has ceased, we are still bathed in its clarity; solitude is accompanied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/in-music-everything-is-prolonged-everything-is-edified-and-when-the/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [To study music, we must learn the rules. To create music, we must break them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/to-study-music-we-must-learn-the-rules-to-create-music-we-must-break/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [A great work is made out of a combination of obedience and liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/a-great-work-is-made-out-of-a-combination-of-obedience-and-liberty/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [You should never listen to someone practice. That is their work and theirs alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/you-should-never-listen-to-someone-practice-that-is-their-work-and/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [Great art likes chains. The greatest artists have created art within bounds. Or else they have created their own chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/great-art-likes-chains-the-greatest-artists-have-created-art-within/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/life-is-denied-by-lack-of-attention-whether-it-be-to-cleaning-windows/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) > [Art is not emotion. Art is the medium in which emotion is expressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-boulanger/art-is-not-emotion-art-is-the-medium-in-which-emotion-is-expressed/) [Nadia Boulanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) [Explore all 36 Nadia Boulanger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-boulanger/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The great conductor is always a despot by temperament and intractable in his ways. ... 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