--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time I was 12 or 13, I felt that I…" description: "\"By the time I was 12 or 13, I felt that I was special, because I could play the guitar and write songs.\" — Paul Simon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/paul-simon-1703_felt_by-the-time-i-was-12-or-13-i-felt-that-i_1922278.png" --- # By the time I was 12 or 13, I felt that I was special… ![“By the time I was 12 or 13, I felt that I was special, because I could play the guitar and write songs.” quote by Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/paul-simon-1703_felt_by-the-time-i-was-12-or-13-i-felt-that-i_1922278.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/paul-simon-1703_felt_by-the-time-i-was-12-or-13-i-felt-that-i_1922278.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/paul-simon-1703_felt_by-the-time-i-was-12-or-13-i-felt-that-i_1922278.png) > “By the time I was 12 or 13, I felt that I was special, because I could play the guitar and write songs.” [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early talent in music fostered a sense of uniqueness and confidence. **In simple terms:** Feeling special because of musical ability. Key Takeaway Nurture early passions into lifelong skills. Themes creativity confidence identity Mood nostalgic inspired Type personal motivational When to use this quote - music lessons - songwriting - performance - teaching Key Concepts selfexpression artistic development Questions to Reflect On - What early talents still shape you? - How can you share those gifts? A Different Perspective Early confidence can become pressure to maintain success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Felt Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-special/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I just play the guitar and write songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/i-just-play-the-guitar-and-write-songs/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [I only wanted to play the guitar so I could write music. As soon as I learned my first three chords I wrote my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-only-wanted-to-play-the-guitar-so-i-could-write-music-as-soon-as-i/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I used to play guitar for myself and write lyrics and listen to different styles of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/i-used-to-play-guitar-for-myself-and-write-lyrics-and-listen-to/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Heck, I'm no Henry Mancini or Michel Legrand. I just play the guitar and write songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/heck-i-m-no-henry-mancini-or-michel-legrand-i-just-play-the-guitar/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [I'll sit around and play my guitar; that's how I write tunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-rush/i-ll-sit-around-and-play-my-guitar-that-s-how-i-write-tunes/) [Otis Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-rush/) > [I'm quite glad I never learned to play the guitar, because I think I'd write songs that were more classically structured. As it is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/i-m-quite-glad-i-never-learned-to-play-the-guitar-because-i-think-i-d/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [I wouldn't just have other people write songs and me go out and sing it. 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I play the keyboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantastic-negrito/i-write-songs-i-perform-i-play-the-guitar-i-play-the-keyboard/) [Fantastic Negrito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantastic-negrito/) > [If I don't channel pain into a song, I play my guitar or play the piano or play my drums, or go swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cliff/if-i-don-t-channel-pain-into-a-song-i-play-my-guitar-or-play-the/) [Jimmy Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cliff/) > [Learning to play the guitar is a combination of mental and motor skill acquisition. And to develop motor skill, repetition is essential... Whenever musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-roberts/learning-to-play-the-guitar-is-a-combination-of-mental-and-motor/) [Howard Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-roberts/) > [I lie around and play guitar, that's something I do for sure. In fact that's all I do, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/i-lie-around-and-play-guitar-that-s-something-i-do-for-sure-in-fact/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) ## More by Paul Simon > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It's pointless to be critical of your stuff once it's done. I don't spend a lot of time agonising over it. 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I can't imagine myself not playing or singing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-m-not-in-it-for-the-money-i-like-music-i-love-to-write-music-i-can/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [No one dare disturb the sound of silence...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/no-one-dare-disturb-the-sound-of-silence/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [A fundamental requirement, overriding any other for this job, is an understanding of deafness-what it is and how it affects the educational experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-fundamental-requirement-overriding-any-other-for-this-job-is-an/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) [Explore all 214 Paul Simon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) ## More Felt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. 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I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. 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