---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I play as many instruments as Prince, and…"
description: "\"I play as many instruments as Prince, and I can write as many songs as him, but he'll be way better than me forever.\" — Scarface"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/scarface-5393_better_i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and_111906.jpg"
---

#  I play as many instruments as Prince, and I can write as…

![“I play as many instruments as Prince, and I can write as many songs as him, but he'll be way better than me forever.” quote by Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/scarface-5393_better_i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and_111906.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/scarface-5393_better_i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and_111906.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/scarface-5393_better_i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and_111906.jpg)

> “I play as many instruments as Prince, and I can write as many songs as him, but he'll be way better than me forever.”

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker acknowledges personal talent yet admits another’s superior artistry, highlighting humility and the limits of self‑assessment.

**In simple terms:** Even talented people recognize others’ greater skill.

Key Takeaway

Humility acknowledges superior talent.

Themes

humility self‑assessment artistry comparison

Mood

humble respectful

Type

personal reflection motivational

When to use this quote

- musicians evaluating peers
- artists discussing influence
- students comparing performance

Key Concepts

confidence vs. modesty

Practical Applications

- Seek mentorship from those you admire
- Use comparative feedback to improve

Questions to Reflect On

- When does comparison become detrimental?
- How can we balance humility with self‑confidence?

A Different Perspective

May undervalue one's own unique contributions by focusing on comparison.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/)

## Related quotes

> [Prince was one of the best people I've met. He didn't care about the big system. I was always like, at any time, Prince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/prince-was-one-of-the-best-people-i-ve-met-he-didn-t-care-about-the/)

[Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/)

> [We write our own songs, play our own instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-jonas/we-write-our-own-songs-play-our-own-instruments/)

[Kevin Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-jonas/)

> [The last thing you want to do is write songs about being in a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/the-last-thing-you-want-to-do-is-write-songs-about-being-in-a-band/)

[Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/)

> [The only reason I do anything is that I just love writing songs. If I write songs, I feel good about it for days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-jarman/the-only-reason-i-do-anything-is-that-i-just-love-writing-songs-if-i/)

[Ryan Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-jarman/)

> [Children should be given the chance to play instruments, to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/children-should-be-given-the-chance-to-play-instruments-to-sing/)

[Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/)

> [I play all my own instruments. I write my own material. And I do not lip-synch. I sing live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaci-brown/i-play-all-my-own-instruments-i-write-my-own-material-and-i-do-not/)

Kaci Brown

> [We play the instruments we love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-marshall/we-play-the-instruments-we-love/)

[Winston Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-marshall/)

> [I play no instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-play-no-instruments/)

[Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/)

> [My dad he doesnt play that many instruments. He played trumpet in high school band. But he made a lot of friends with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/my-dad-he-doesnt-play-that-many-instruments-he-played-trumpet-in-high/)

[Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/)

> [You know, I only claim to play three instruments. My dad is a banker, but a drummer at heart; and my mom used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-worsham/you-know-i-only-claim-to-play-three-instruments-my-dad-is-a-banker/)

[Charlie Worsham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-worsham/)

> [I always just sit down at the piano and make the main hook—what I want the track to be about melodically—and then I’ll build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicii/i-always-just-sit-down-at-the-piano-and-make-the-main-hook-what-i/)

[Avicii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicii/)

> [I play instruments and stuff, but I can't rap or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-play-instruments-and-stuff-but-i-can-t-rap-or-anything-like-that/)

[Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/)

> [We're not just R&amp;B guys. We can do pop, rock, blues . . . a wide variety. We are musicians and play several instruments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-thomas/we-re-not-just-r-b-guys-we-can-do-pop-rock-blues-a-wide-variety-we/)

[Damon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-thomas/)

> [I learned to play instruments and I've been in bands since I was 13, but I wanted to be an artist and I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/i-learned-to-play-instruments-and-i-ve-been-in-bands-since-i-was-13/)

[The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/)

> [Over the years, I've had to learn to play. For example, when 'Lennon' was on Broadway, I learned my way around the guitar chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-chase/over-the-years-i-ve-had-to-learn-to-play-for-example-when-lennon-was/)

[Will Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-chase/)

## More by Scarface

> [I really believe that God spared me, and I'm thankful for that. Imagine if I would've died when I was seven, 12 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-really-believe-that-god-spared-me-and-i-m-thankful-for-that-imagine/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [Whoever you are, you have to be that. You know? I was always who I was. I never changed, I never switched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/whoever-you-are-you-have-to-be-that-you-know-i-was-always-who-i-was-i/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [Every time I'm out on the road, everywhere I go, somebody got a demo for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/every-time-i-m-out-on-the-road-everywhere-i-go-somebody-got-a-demo/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [I'm a musician, first and foremost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-m-a-musician-first-and-foremost/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [I fought COVID double bilateral pneumonia - both lungs - and kidney failure in my house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-fought-covid-double-bilateral-pneumonia-both-lungs-and-kidney/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [Coldplay was big for me in the 2000s. 'Parachutes' was a good album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/coldplay-was-big-for-me-in-the-2000s-parachutes-was-a-good-album/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [You can sit back and point out the problems or you can address them and bring solutions to the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/you-can-sit-back-and-point-out-the-problems-or-you-can-address-them/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [I don't like the lip-syncing-type videos. I like for people to listen to the words and see the visual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-don-t-like-the-lip-syncing-type-videos-i-like-for-people-to-listen/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [I've learned from the best. I've had the best teachers in the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-ve-learned-from-the-best-i-ve-had-the-best-teachers-in-the-game/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [I had to learn how to eat to live and not live to eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-had-to-learn-how-to-eat-to-live-and-not-live-to-eat/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [I remember my uncle used to work pouring concrete and as a plumber. Now, I don't see uncles working as plumbers or pouring concrete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-remember-my-uncle-used-to-work-pouring-concrete-and-as-a-plumber/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [Mind Playing Tricks on Me' or 'Mind of a Lunatic' were great songs. As far as my favorite Geto Boys album? None of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/mind-playing-tricks-on-me-or-mind-of-a-lunatic-were-great-songs-as/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [My marriage to music came from KISS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/my-marriage-to-music-came-from-kiss/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [Pac never had a license. He would mysteriously pop up with all these cars like, 'Get in. We're goin' to jail!' I ain't going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/pac-never-had-a-license-he-would-mysteriously-pop-up-with-all-these/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

> [I love 'Pac to death man but let that man rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-love-pac-to-death-man-but-let-that-man-rest/)

[Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

[Explore all 100 Scarface quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

Browse all 17,085 Better quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I play as many instruments as Prince, and I can write as many songs as him, but he'll be way better than me forever.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Scarface"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and-i-can-write-as-many-songs-as/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and-i-can-write-as-many-songs-as/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/scarface-5393_better_i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and_111906.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/scarface-5393_better_i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and_111906.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/scarface-5393_better_i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and_111906.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I play as many instruments as Prince, and I can write as many songs as him, but he'll be way better than me…” — Scarface",
                "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": "Scarface",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I play as many instruments as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and-i-can-write-as-many-songs-as/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/i-play-as-many-instruments-as-prince-and-i-can-write-as-many-songs-as/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
