--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My God, how can anyone ever be a master…" description: "\"My God, how can anyone ever be a master of music?\" — Paul Hindemith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/paul-hindemith-36884_excellence_my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-o_483214.jpg" --- # My God, how can anyone ever be a master of music? ![“My God, how can anyone ever be a master of music?” quote by Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/paul-hindemith-36884_excellence_my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-o_483214.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/paul-hindemith-36884_excellence_my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-o_483214.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/paul-hindemith-36884_excellence_my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-o_483214.jpg) > “My God, how can anyone ever be a master of music?” [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He questions how anyone can truly master music, reflecting humility and the endless learning path. **In simple terms:** Mastery of music seems impossible. Key Takeaway Embrace lifelong learning in music. Themes humility mastery music learning Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - music education - practice routines - career development Key Concepts expertise continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - What does mastery mean to you? - How do you stay motivated to improve? A Different Perspective Mastery may be unattainable for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [“It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/it-is-a-mistake-to-think-that-the-practice-of-my-art-has-become-easy/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullshit and just play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/master-your-instrument-master-the-music-and-then-forget-all-that/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [Bruce Smith is a tender master of music, and beautiful lines, and complex thoughts, and fascinating wild personal and cultural references.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-stern/bruce-smith-is-a-tender-master-of-music-and-beautiful-lines-and/) [Gerald Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-stern/) > [The reverence that the object maker has for the materials, for the shape, and for the miracle of his skill transcends to God, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-maloof/the-reverence-that-the-object-maker-has-for-the-materials-for-the/) [Sam Maloof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-maloof/) > [A servant of God has but one Master. It ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great, and honored in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/a-servant-of-god-has-but-one-master-it-ill-becomes-the-servant-to/) [George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/) > [Ah! my friend, for whomever is alone, without a god and without a master, the weight of time is terrible. One must then choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/ah-my-friend-for-whomever-is-alone-without-a-god-and-without-a-master/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [When God is made the master of a family, he disorders the disorderly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/when-god-is-made-the-master-of-a-family-he-disorders-the-disorderly/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [If God is the master of the universe, then what are we? The slaves of the universe? If so, let each man become proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-god-is-the-master-of-the-universe-then-what-are-we-the-slaves-of/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [When we see through the lens of God's truth, revealed primarily in his Word, everything comes into sharper focus. Suddenly, we'll see that everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-boa/when-we-see-through-the-lens-of-god-s-truth-revealed-primarily-in-his/) [Kenneth Boa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-boa/) > [Discipline in the spiritual life is the concentrated effort to create the space and time where God can become our master and where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/discipline-in-the-spiritual-life-is-the-concentrated-effort-to-create/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“Be a master of yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/be-a-master-of-yourself/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [There is no greater pride and glory than to be a perfect instrument of the Master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/there-is-no-greater-pride-and-glory-than-to-be-a-perfect-instrument/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [“God is the Great Master.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-is-the-great-master/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Death is a master from Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/death-is-a-master-from-germany/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul and all that jazz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/i-am-the-master-of-my-fate-i-am-the-captain-of-my-soul-and-all-that/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) ## More by Paul Hindemith > [Music is meaningless noise unless it touches a receiving mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/music-is-meaningless-noise-unless-it-touches-a-receiving-mind/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [Tonality is a natural force, like gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/tonality-is-a-natural-force-like-gravity/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [Your task it is, amid confusion, rush, and noise, to grasp the lasting, calm and meaningful, and finding it anew, to hold and treasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/your-task-it-is-amid-confusion-rush-and-noise-to-grasp-the-lasting/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [Music, as long as it exists, will always take its departure from the major triad and return to it. The musician cannot escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/music-as-long-as-it-exists-will-always-take-its-departure-from-the/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [People who make music together cannot be enemies, at least while the music lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/people-who-make-music-together-cannot-be-enemies-at-least-while-the/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [Our spirit of life is not identical with that of our ancestors, and therefore their music, even if restored with utter technical perfections, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/our-spirit-of-life-is-not-identical-with-that-of-our-ancestors-and/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [“This music, transmitted by loud-speakers, made a masterpiece appear like an amateurish attempt at composition by nimcompoop”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/this-music-transmitted-by-loud-speakers-made-a-masterpiece-appear/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [There are only two things worth aiming for, good music and a clean conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/there-are-only-two-things-worth-aiming-for-good-music-and-a-clean/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [The reactions music evokes are not feelings, but they are the images, memories of feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/the-reactions-music-evokes-are-not-feelings-but-they-are-the-images/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [“The discrepancy between the vacationists’ good times and Isolde’s unfortunate experience is more than disgusting”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/the-discrepancy-between-the-vacationists-good-times-and-isolde-s/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [There are only twelve tones and they need to be treated carefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/there-are-only-twelve-tones-and-they-need-to-be-treated-carefully/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) [Explore all 12 Paul Hindemith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) ## 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. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. 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": "My God, how can anyone ever be a master of music?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Hindemith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-of-music/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-of-music/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/paul-hindemith-36884_excellence_my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-o_483214.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/paul-hindemith-36884_excellence_my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-o_483214.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/paul-hindemith-36884_excellence_my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-o_483214.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My God, how can anyone ever be a master of music?” — Paul Hindemith", "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": "Paul Hindemith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My God, how can anyone ever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-of-music/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-of-music/#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 } } ] } ```