--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think you can refine what you do, and…" description: "\"I think you can refine what you do, and become more consistent. And you write better songs that have a better shape and a better feeling. You evolve in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/richard-thompson-13593_consistent_i-think-you-can-refine-what-you-do-and-b_709469.jpg" --- # I think you can refine what you do, and become more… ![“I think you can refine what you do, and become more consistent. And you write better songs that have a better shape and a better feeling. You evolve into and out of things, and go through stages, but, ultimately, you do improve.” quote by Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/richard-thompson-13593_consistent_i-think-you-can-refine-what-you-do-and-b_709469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/richard-thompson-13593_consistent_i-think-you-can-refine-what-you-do-and-b_709469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/richard-thompson-13593_consistent_i-think-you-can-refine-what-you-do-and-b_709469.jpg) > “I think you can refine what you do, and become more consistent. And you write better songs that have a better shape and a better feeling. You evolve into and out of things, and go through stages, but, ultimately, you do improve.” [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improving craft requires refining techniques, consistency, and evolving through stages, leading to better work and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Refine, stay consistent, evolve to improve. Key Takeaway Focus on steady refinement. Themes creativity growth craftsmanship Mood reflective motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - musical performance - personal development Key Concepts Skill development artistic evolution iteration Questions to Reflect On - What habits can you adopt to maintain consistency? - How do you measure artistic growth? A Different Perspective Improvement may be uneven and require external feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I do believe we should push each other to write better songs and make better music. We do ourselves a disservice if we sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-baker/i-do-believe-we-should-push-each-other-to-write-better-songs-and-make/) Bonnie Baker > [The older songs were better songs, because they had lyrics with a story to tell. Aretha and Otis told stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-pickett/the-older-songs-were-better-songs-because-they-had-lyrics-with-a/) [Wilson Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-pickett/) > [My motivations are thinking I can write better songs, that the concerts can be better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-iglesias/my-motivations-are-thinking-i-can-write-better-songs-that-the/) [Enrique Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-iglesias/) > [“They would have to sing better songs to make me believe in their Redeemer; his disciples would have to look more redeemed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/they-would-have-to-sing-better-songs-to-make-me-believe-in-their/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I can't speak for other artists; every group has a different approach. For us, it will always be important to keep working hard, dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rm/i-can-t-speak-for-other-artists-every-group-has-a-different-approach/) RM > [I can sit and analyze everything and beat myself up and say you don't quite sing as good as you used to, you're writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gill/i-can-sit-and-analyze-everything-and-beat-myself-up-and-say-you-don-t/) [Vince Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gill/) > [The only thing better than one of my songs is one of my songs with a glass of scotch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-gleason/the-only-thing-better-than-one-of-my-songs-is-one-of-my-songs-with-a/) [Jackie Gleason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-gleason/) > [I remember seeing an interview from the Bee Gees and they were like, 'The biggest competition to the Bee Gees is the Bee Gees.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borns/i-remember-seeing-an-interview-from-the-bee-gees-and-they-were-like/) [Borns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borns/) > [I want to get better at freestyling, to be writing better songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-want-to-get-better-at-freestyling-to-be-writing-better-songs/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [They would have to sing better songs for me to learn to have faith in their Redeemer; and his disciples would have to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/they-would-have-to-sing-better-songs-for-me-to-learn-to-have-faith-in/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The more wild experiences you have, the better songs you can write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/the-more-wild-experiences-you-have-the-better-songs-you-can-write/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [There are certainly a lot of people - and I won't name names - who are getting by simply on expression. And I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-dylan/there-are-certainly-a-lot-of-people-and-i-won-t-name-names-who-are/) [Jakob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-dylan/) > [I can bet nobody can sing Nat King Cole's songs better than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-christo/i-can-bet-nobody-can-sing-nat-king-cole-s-songs-better-than-me/) [Bob Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-christo/) > [I still do one song by myself onstage. it gives people the extremely personal thing where it's just me on guitar. But, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-boucher/i-still-do-one-song-by-myself-onstage-it-gives-people-the-extremely/) Butterfly Boucher > [I'm not like other writers. I'm not hung up on using my own songs. In fact, my sister Bunny always tells me I sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-debarge/i-m-not-like-other-writers-i-m-not-hung-up-on-using-my-own-songs-in/) [El DeBarge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-debarge/) ## More by Richard Thompson > [People want to be the first with the record, they want to be the first to know which songs are on the record, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/people-want-to-be-the-first-with-the-record-they-want-to-be-the-first/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [You want the audience to be uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/you-want-the-audience-to-be-uncomfortable/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [People want to hear about the extremes of human nature. They want things that are larger than their own lives, and more romantic, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/people-want-to-hear-about-the-extremes-of-human-nature-they-want/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [Amplifying acoustic instruments more than a little is really cheating, and everything becomes a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/amplifying-acoustic-instruments-more-than-a-little-is-really-cheating/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [As the writer, you're always a presence in the song. If you get close to what human beings are like, you're writing about common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/as-the-writer-you-re-always-a-presence-in-the-song-if-you-get-close/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [There is in fact a controversy over Darwin's theory. Clearly both theories have religious implications. But this is not about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/there-is-in-fact-a-controversy-over-darwin-s-theory-clearly-both/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [I want people to come to my music without prejudice. I want them to get the music first. And who I am isn't that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-want-people-to-come-to-my-music-without-prejudice-i-want-them-to/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [I think it's absolutely possible to write a song and go somewhere where no one's been before, uncharted territory. In terms of content, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-think-it-s-absolutely-possible-to-write-a-song-and-go-somewhere/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [“I’m a fool with a size one head/ I’ll change this heart of mine/ This time, this time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-m-a-fool-with-a-size-one-head-i-ll-change-this-heart-of-mine-this/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [I'm glad I can do both full-band electric and solo acoustic performances. It's nice to have contrast, so if you get fed up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-m-glad-i-can-do-both-full-band-electric-and-solo-acoustic/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [An audience will let you know if a song communicates. If you see them kind of falling asleep during the song, or if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/an-audience-will-let-you-know-if-a-song-communicates-if-you-see-them/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [When you stand up acoustic in front of an audience, you really are a man without any clothes on. And that can be fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/when-you-stand-up-acoustic-in-front-of-an-audience-you-really-are-a/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [What I wanted to hear didn't exist, so it was necessary for me to go out and create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/what-i-wanted-to-hear-didn-t-exist-so-it-was-necessary-for-me-to-go/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [It's amazing what some people read into songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/it-s-amazing-what-some-people-read-into-songs/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [The good part of writing is where it gets out of your control and turns into something else. You look at it and think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/the-good-part-of-writing-is-where-it-gets-out-of-your-control-and/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) [Explore all 50 Richard Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) ## More Consistent quotes > [The most important thing is consistent football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-hudson-odoi/the-most-important-thing-is-consistent-football/) [Callum Hudson-Odoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-hudson-odoi/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Humor is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/humor-is-consistent-with-pathos-whilst-wit-is-not/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [If I do the same thing consistently, no matter how I feel, I'm probably going to produce a consistent result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/if-i-do-the-same-thing-consistently-no-matter-how-i-feel-i-m-probably/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [Staying consistent is even more important in three-out-of-five-set matches, to be able to wear on guys over that long of a match, if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/staying-consistent-is-even-more-important-in-three-out-of-five-set/) [Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/) > [If all areas of my game are pretty consistent, that's all I hope for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/if-all-areas-of-my-game-are-pretty-consistent-that-s-all-i-hope-for/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [The one thing that seems to be consistent through all my work that I like, and I experimented a lot, is the viewer is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-misrach/the-one-thing-that-seems-to-be-consistent-through-all-my-work-that-i/) [Richard Misrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-misrach/) > [Consistent style prevents presentation from getting in the way of content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/consistent-style-prevents-presentation-from-getting-in-the-way-of/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I reject the idea there are just two sides. I think that with the amount of ideas and thoughts there are, it's not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-reject-the-idea-there-are-just-two-sides-i-think-that-with-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I definitely go through periods where I'm in a particular mood, or there's a consistent imaginative context that I feel I'm in, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-definitely-go-through-periods-where-i-m-in-a-particular-mood-or/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“You don’t have to be strong, or fast, or impressive. Just consistent. The rest will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-allen-dunn/you-don-t-have-to-be-strong-or-fast-or-impressive-just-consistent-the/) [Randall Allen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-allen-dunn/) > [Didn't think her vision was consistent with the ORC, especially the way the Council wishes to work with the ORC. For example, with regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-foster/didn-t-think-her-vision-was-consistent-with-the-orc-especially-the/) [Norman Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-foster/) > [I wanted to be consistent with my exercise, so I committed to working out for 30 days in a row, no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/i-wanted-to-be-consistent-with-my-exercise-so-i-committed-to-working/) [Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/) Browse all 1,410 Consistent quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think you can refine what you do, and become more consistent. And you write better songs that have a better shape and a better feeling. 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