--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We in the Western world suffer from too…" description: "\"We in the Western world suffer from too many categories and classes; we've forgotten that we all still have diapers on. We've separated music from life..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/ornette-coleman-12578_categories_we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too_3221640.jpg" --- # We in the Western world suffer from too many categories… ![“We in the Western world suffer from too many categories and classes; we've forgotten that we all still have diapers on. We've separated music from life.” quote by Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/ornette-coleman-12578_categories_we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too_3221640.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/ornette-coleman-12578_categories_we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too_3221640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/ornette-coleman-12578_categories_we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too_3221640.jpg) > “We in the Western world suffer from too many categories and classes; we've forgotten that we all still have diapers on. We've separated music from life.” [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We over‑categorize and detach art from everyday human experience, forgetting our shared basic needs. **In simple terms:** We forget our common humanity amid endless labels. Key Takeaway Remember shared humanity beyond categories. Themes humanity art simplicity connection humility Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical critical inspirational When to use this quote - education - community events - media analysis - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism social critique cultural commentary Questions to Reflect On - How do labels shape your view of others? - When did you feel disconnected from basic humanity? A Different Perspective Categories can help organize thought, but may also limit empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It seems to me that in the western world, culture has something to do with appearance. A person that's out creating good stuff has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/it-seems-to-me-that-in-the-western-world-culture-has-something-to-do/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [You've got to realize. In the western world, regardless of what color you are, what title the music is, it's all played by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/you-ve-got-to-realize-in-the-western-world-regardless-of-what-color/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [“Because we live in a fallen world, we suffer. But those of us who know Jesus are never alone in the suffering, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-turner-lee/because-we-live-in-a-fallen-world-we-suffer-but-those-of-us-who-know/) Melissa Turner Lee > [We have the opportunity now to look at the two billion people in the world who suffer from the most abject poverty, hunger, disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/we-have-the-opportunity-now-to-look-at-the-two-billion-people-in-the/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [The human population can no longer be allowed to grow in the same old uncontrollable way. If we do not take charge of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/the-human-population-can-no-longer-be-allowed-to-grow-in-the-same-old/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [A small group of people, they raise the price of oil and the whole world will suffer from this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-zaki-yamani/a-small-group-of-people-they-raise-the-price-of-oil-and-the-whole/) [Ahmed Zaki Yamani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-zaki-yamani/) > [“he hoped she would be happy, and never regret having driven her poor boy out into the unfeeling world to suffer and die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/he-hoped-she-would-be-happy-and-never-regret-having-driven-her-poor/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Women the world over suffer restrictions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/women-the-world-over-suffer-restrictions/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/for-what-shall-it-profit-a-man-if-he-gain-the-whole-world-and-suffer/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [The way Americans understand and treat other peoples almost guarantees that the world will suffer more trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nguyen-cao-ky/the-way-americans-understand-and-treat-other-peoples-almost/) [Nguyen Cao Ky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nguyen-cao-ky/) > [“Happiness is pure kitsch; we come into the world to suffer and learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/happiness-is-pure-kitsch-we-come-into-the-world-to-suffer-and-learn/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Happiness is pure kitch; we come into the world to suffer and learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/happiness-is-pure-kitch-we-come-into-the-world-to-suffer-and-learn/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [And just as your beautiful skyscrapers were destroyed and caused your grief, beautiful buildings and precious homes crumbled over their owners in Lebanon, Palestine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/and-just-as-your-beautiful-skyscrapers-were-destroyed-and-caused-your/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) > [You are not alone... My name is General Zod. I have journeyed across an ocean of stars to reach here. Your world has sheltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-of-steel/you-are-not-alone-my-name-is-general-zod-i-have-journeyed-across-an/) [Man Of Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-of-steel/) > [ I don't think for example that the Indians look at \[what is right and what is wrong\] that way \[the Palestinians do\]. There are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-don-t-think-for-example-that-the-indians-look-at-what-is-right-and/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) ## More by Ornette Coleman > [Jerry Garcia was one of the original American icons. He played naturally and beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/jerry-garcia-was-one-of-the-original-american-icons-he-played/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [That's why I haven't been so anxious. But now, lots of people write and say, 'I want to find out what you're doing.' So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/that-s-why-i-haven-t-been-so-anxious-but-now-lots-of-people-write-and/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [No one has to learn to spell to talk, right? You see a little kid holding a conversation with an adult. He probably doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/no-one-has-to-learn-to-spell-to-talk-right-you-see-a-little-kid/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-ve-never-had-a-relationship-with-a-record-executive-i-always-went/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Music has many uses and I think the most perfected use that music has is one of a healing quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/music-has-many-uses-and-i-think-the-most-perfected-use-that-music-has/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Musicians tell me, if what I'm doing is right, they should never have gone to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/musicians-tell-me-if-what-i-m-doing-is-right-they-should-never-have/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I'm interested in music, not in my image. If someone plays something fantastic, that I could never have thought of, it makes me happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-m-interested-in-music-not-in-my-image-if-someone-plays-something/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [When I have them working together, it's like a beautiful kaleidoscope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/when-i-have-them-working-together-it-s-like-a-beautiful-kaleidoscope/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/it-was-when-i-found-out-i-could-make-mistakes-that-i-knew-i-was-on-to/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [After I left Texas and went to California, I had a hard time getting anyone to play anything that I was writing, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/after-i-left-texas-and-went-to-california-i-had-a-hard-time-getting/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I think that those elements - light and sound - are beyond democratic. They're into the creative part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-think-that-those-elements-light-and-sound-are-beyond-democratic/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I don't really live like a musician myself. I think music is just something that I do, but I'd like to be doing lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-don-t-really-live-like-a-musician-myself-i-think-music-is-just/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it-but-first-you-have-to-do-it/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I remember once I read a book on mental illness and there was a nurse that had gotten sick. Do you know what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-remember-once-i-read-a-book-on-mental-illness-and-there-was-a-nurse/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Most of my relationships have been like that - with record companies. I've never had a legitimate business relationship with a company. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/most-of-my-relationships-have-been-like-that-with-record-companies-i/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) [Explore all 54 Ornette Coleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) ## More Categories quotes > [...the number of saintly men has not yet risen to the level where the census makes them a separate statistical category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stigler/the-number-of-saintly-men-has-not-yet-risen-to-the-level-where-the/) [George Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stigler/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [I've worked with jazz artists, country artists, classical artists, pop artists. I never wanted there to be categories, because when I was a kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-ve-worked-with-jazz-artists-country-artists-classical-artists-pop/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I put the truth out there, I put the historical facts into Hip Hop to show us how much history repeats itself and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-put-the-truth-out-there-i-put-the-historical-facts-into-hip-hop-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I am devoting my lecture in this seminar to a discussion of the possibility that we are now entering a Jewish century, a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-a-siegel/i-am-devoting-my-lecture-in-this-seminar-to-a-discussion-of-the/) Martin A. Siegel > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No, I don't like legend. I mean, I don't like the category. And to begin with, to me, a legend is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/no-i-don-t-like-legend-i-mean-i-don-t-like-the-category-and-to-begin/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [ I read so ravenously that I would read through whole categories. I was crazy about reading biographies. \[...\] I think biographies are very urgent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-read-so-ravenously-that-i-would-read-through-whole-categories-i-was/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [... the notions category and functor were not formulated or put in print until the idea of a natural transformation was also at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saunders-mac-lane/the-notions-category-and-functor-were-not-formulated-or-put-in-print/) Saunders Mac Lane > [Last guy I was interested in turned out to be an incestuous necrophiliac," she said. "So no, not currently dating, and definitely not doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/last-guy-i-was-interested-in-turned-out-to-be-an-incestuous/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Culture exists and evolves to relegate to habit categories of interactions the constant conscious reference to which would make human interaction impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/culture-exists-and-evolves-to-relegate-to-habit-categories-of/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) Browse all 927 Categories quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We in the Western world suffer from too many categories and classes; we've forgotten that we all still have diapers on. We've separated music from life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ornette Coleman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too-many-categories-and-classes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Categories" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too-many-categories-and-classes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/ornette-coleman-12578_categories_we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too_3221640.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/ornette-coleman-12578_categories_we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too_3221640.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/ornette-coleman-12578_categories_we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too_3221640.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We in the Western world suffer from too many categories and classes; we've forgotten that we all still have…” — Ornette Coleman", "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": "Ornette Coleman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We in the Western world suffer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too-many-categories-and-classes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/we-in-the-western-world-suffer-from-too-many-categories-and-classes/#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 } } ] } ```