--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The violin is my mistress, but the guitar…" description: "\"The violin is my mistress, but the guitar is my master.\" — Niccolo Paganini" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/niccolo-paganini-40858_excellence_the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar_613794.jpg" --- # The violin is my mistress, but the guitar is my master. ![“The violin is my mistress, but the guitar is my master.” quote by Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/niccolo-paganini-40858_excellence_the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar_613794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/niccolo-paganini-40858_excellence_the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar_613794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/niccolo-paganini-40858_excellence_the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar_613794.jpg) > “The violin is my mistress, but the guitar is my master.” [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses that the violin captivates him intimately, yet the guitar commands his artistic direction. **In simple terms:** Violin is love, guitar is control. Key Takeaway Balance passion with discipline. Themes music artistry control passion Mood reflective inspired Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - performance preparation - songwriting - instrument switching - creative focus Key Concepts instrument hierarchy artistic influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize instruments in your work? - What does mastery mean to you? A Different Perspective Reliance on one instrument may limit versatility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Mistress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistress/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes we woke up and feel like a Guitar Master, sometimes we woke up and feel like a complete fool. but that's the fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-emmanuel/sometimes-we-woke-up-and-feel-like-a-guitar-master-sometimes-we-woke/) [Tommy Emmanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-emmanuel/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [When I attained my seventh year, my father, whose ear was unmusical but who was nevertheless passionately fond of music, gave me my elementary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/when-i-attained-my-seventh-year-my-father-whose-ear-was-unmusical-but/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [You have to become a master or mistress of your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-have-to-become-a-master-or-mistress-of-your-mind/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“To say she is only a woman is to say a violin is a piece of wood with strings, and Dante is mere ink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-crown/to-say-she-is-only-a-woman-is-to-say-a-violin-is-a-piece-of-wood-with/) [Bruce Crown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-crown/) > [I am carried in my shadow like a violin in its black case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-transtromer/i-am-carried-in-my-shadow-like-a-violin-in-its-black-case/) [Tomas Transtromer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-transtromer/) > [The bass line is the anchor for me. I started with the bass, and either doubled that and then added the harmonies, or sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/the-bass-line-is-the-anchor-for-me-i-started-with-the-bass-and-either/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [And I also think it's a violin when you're selling it and a fiddle when you're buying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-shires/and-i-also-think-it-s-a-violin-when-you-re-selling-it-and-a-fiddle/) [Amanda Shires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-shires/) > [Yes, I mean like you know, having studied with Yehudi Menuhin that is like some direct route into Bach, because he was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/yes-i-mean-like-you-know-having-studied-with-yehudi-menuhin-that-is/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/singing-has-always-seemed-to-me-the-most-perfect-means-of-expression/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [When you play a violin piece, you are a storyteller, and you're telling a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/when-you-play-a-violin-piece-you-are-a-storyteller-and-you-re-telling/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [At the age of nine, playing the violin at school, and then onto the mandolin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/at-the-age-of-nine-playing-the-violin-at-school-and-then-onto-the/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) > [I'm a pretty good drummer. I'm pretty good at guitar, bass and piano. I can play accordion; I'm not virtuoso. I've played cello before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-m-a-pretty-good-drummer-i-m-pretty-good-at-guitar-bass-and-piano-i/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [You can imagine me as a kid growing up in redneck Texas with ballet shoes, tucking the violin under my arm. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swayze/you-can-imagine-me-as-a-kid-growing-up-in-redneck-texas-with-ballet/) [Patrick Swayze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swayze/) > [“I don't need to sleep to play. I'm crazy anyway. Being crazier still could only help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-don-t-need-to-sleep-to-play-i-m-crazy-anyway-being-crazier-still/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) ## More by Niccolo Paganini > [I love the guitar for its harmony; it is my constant companion in all my travels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/i-love-the-guitar-for-its-harmony-it-is-my-constant-companion-in-all/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [On December 12, 1829, Paganini wrote his friend Germi: "The variations I've composed on the graceful Neapolitan ditty, 'Oh Mamma, Mama Cara,' outshine everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/on-december-12-1829-paganini-wrote-his-friend-germi-the-variations-i/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [At Vienna, one of the audience affirmed publicly that my performance was not surprising, for he had distinctly seen, while I was playing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/at-vienna-one-of-the-audience-affirmed-publicly-that-my-performance/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [At a grand evening service in a church, my concerto created such a furor that the worshippers rushed out to keep the crowd outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/at-a-grand-evening-service-in-a-church-my-concerto-created-such-a/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [When I attained my seventh year, my father, whose ear was unmusical but who was nevertheless passionately fond of music, gave me my elementary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/when-i-attained-my-seventh-year-my-father-whose-ear-was-unmusical-but/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [In order to move others, I must be moved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/in-order-to-move-others-i-must-be-moved/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [I am not handsome, but when women hear me play, they come crawling to my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/i-am-not-handsome-but-when-women-hear-me-play-they-come-crawling-to/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [The variations I've composed on the graceful Neapolitan ditty, 'Oh Mamma, Mama Cara,' outshine everything. I can't describe it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/the-variations-i-ve-composed-on-the-graceful-neapolitan-ditty-oh/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [Now I am a genius; before that I was a drudge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/now-i-am-a-genius-before-that-i-was-a-drudge/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) [Explore all 10 Niccolo Paganini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) ## More Excellence quotes > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. 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Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The violin is my mistress, but the guitar is my master.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niccolo Paganini" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar-is-my-master/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar-is-my-master/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/niccolo-paganini-40858_excellence_the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar_613794.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/niccolo-paganini-40858_excellence_the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar_613794.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/niccolo-paganini-40858_excellence_the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar_613794.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The violin is my mistress, but the guitar is my master.” — Niccolo Paganini", "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": "Niccolo Paganini", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The violin is my mistress, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar-is-my-master/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/the-violin-is-my-mistress-but-the-guitar-is-my-master/#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 } } ] } ```