--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The adventure is when people don't know…" description: "\"The adventure is when people don't know what they're doing at all. Like, I think that the first pop band to use synthesizers as their main instrument a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/stephin-merritt-18370_adventure_the-adventure-is-when-people-don-t-know_10656.jpg" --- # The adventure is when people don't know what they're doing… ![“The adventure is when people don't know what they're doing at all. Like, I think that the first pop band to use synthesizers as their main instrument and take it seriously was probably Silver Apples. And they sure didn't know what they were doing, and they sure don't sound like anything else.” quote by Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/stephin-merritt-18370_adventure_the-adventure-is-when-people-don-t-know_10656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/stephin-merritt-18370_adventure_the-adventure-is-when-people-don-t-know_10656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/stephin-merritt-18370_adventure_the-adventure-is-when-people-don-t-know_10656.jpg) > “The adventure is when people don't know what they're doing at all. Like, I think that the first pop band to use synthesizers as their main instrument and take it seriously was probably Silver Apples. And they sure didn't know what they were doing, and they sure don't sound like anything else.” [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innovation often arises from uncertainty; early adopters experiment without precedent, creating novel sounds. **In simple terms:** Pioneering through ignorance Key Takeaway Uncertainty fuels creativity Themes innovation music history experimental art technology adoption cultural shift Mood curiosity excitement reverence Type observation historical note celebration When to use this quote - forming a new band - recording an album - introducing a novel instrument - challenging industry norms Key Concepts synthesizers pop music genre formation creative risk Practical Applications - music production - creative workshops Questions to Reflect On - What role does ignorance play in artistic breakthroughs? - How can embracing uncertainty benefit other fields? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I don't love using synthesizers, but I do use synthesizers. I'm more inspired by acoustic instruments - as long as there's something making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-don-t-love-using-synthesizers-but-i-do-use-synthesizers-i-m-more/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [There are only so many instruments you can layer on top of each other that aren't perfectly electronically programmed. "Long Vermont Roads" just cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/there-are-only-so-many-instruments-you-can-layer-on-top-of-each-other/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [While I try to avoid terms like 'high' and 'low' culture, I would agree that Sparks are attempting to be both a 'mere' pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/while-i-try-to-avoid-terms-like-high-and-low-culture-i-would-agree/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [I think we're definitely playing up to characters. We see ourselves as a pop band. I don't have a pseudonym because I don't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenno/i-think-we-re-definitely-playing-up-to-characters-we-see-ourselves-as/) [Gwenno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenno/) > [We are just a rock and pop band, that's what we are. And I believe we recorded the records to feature the songs rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-caffey/we-are-just-a-rock-and-pop-band-that-s-what-we-are-and-i-believe-we/) [Charlotte Caffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-caffey/) > [The Ramones were American, and I knew about them, and I thought they were interesting. But they were like a pop band to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/the-ramones-were-american-and-i-knew-about-them-and-i-thought-they/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [As much as we were very proud of being a pop band, I know we never felt like we fit into that category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hanson/as-much-as-we-were-very-proud-of-being-a-pop-band-i-know-we-never/) [Isaac Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hanson/) > [The Busted thing happened when I was 16. I saw an opportunity, took it and it was better than being at school. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-simpson/the-busted-thing-happened-when-i-was-16-i-saw-an-opportunity-took-it/) [Charlie Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-simpson/) > [It was a fun job but I'd never claim Busted was anything other than a pop band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-simpson/it-was-a-fun-job-but-i-d-never-claim-busted-was-anything-other-than-a/) [Charlie Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-simpson/) > [We're a pop art band. Not a pop band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stein/we-re-a-pop-art-band-not-a-pop-band/) [Chris Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stein/) > [If you are a pop band, don't say you're a metal band. Poison and Warrant were about as metal as the Backstreet Boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geezer-butler/if-you-are-a-pop-band-don-t-say-you-re-a-metal-band-poison-and/) [Geezer Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geezer-butler/) > [I used to have this little punk pop band, and I don't know why we did 'Behind Blue Eyes,' because it's not punk pop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-used-to-have-this-little-punk-pop-band-and-i-don-t-know-why-we-did/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I mean I like pop music, and I like heavy music and, stuff that I like... the band I've signed on to our label…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/i-mean-i-like-pop-music-and-i-like-heavy-music-and-stuff-that-i-like/) [James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/) > [One thing people would be surprised about is that although hard rock and heavy metal are without question 90% of what I listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/one-thing-people-would-be-surprised-about-is-that-although-hard-rock/) [Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/) > [One Direction. Proper pop band. There has to be a band that people want to scream at. I don't think I've ever behaved like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lowe/one-direction-proper-pop-band-there-has-to-be-a-band-that-people-want/) [Chris Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lowe/) ## More by Stephin Merritt > [I gave up music criticism because of the increasingly obvious conflict of interest. I couldn't say anything bad about the records when I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-gave-up-music-criticism-because-of-the-increasingly-obvious/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Well, things hold up even if they sound dated. It can be very difficult to listen to 80s pop songs with really, really gigantic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/well-things-hold-up-even-if-they-sound-dated-it-can-be-very-difficult/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [There are only so many instruments you can layer on top of each other that aren't perfectly electronically programmed. "Long Vermont Roads" just cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/there-are-only-so-many-instruments-you-can-layer-on-top-of-each-other/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Popular music of the last 50 years has failed to keep in step with advances in musical theater, namely Stephen Sondheim. But the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/popular-music-of-the-last-50-years-has-failed-to-keep-in-step-with/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Well, hardcore is so much about the body, in that you have to play as fast as possible. I'm not sure it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/well-hardcore-is-so-much-about-the-body-in-that-you-have-to-play-as/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I write songs by sitting around in bars, so drinking songs are a little obvious. It's surprising that I don't write entirely drinking songs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-write-songs-by-sitting-around-in-bars-so-drinking-songs-are-a/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [There's a whole kind of melancholy that you can only attain with reverb. That's an example of a technology introducing a whole new meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/there-s-a-whole-kind-of-melancholy-that-you-can-only-attain-with/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [You know, most love songs are not cheesy and corny. Most love songs are complaints, I think. Or about unrequited love, coming at it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/you-know-most-love-songs-are-not-cheesy-and-corny-most-love-songs-are/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I don't think there are any clichés I try to avoid. As soon as I spot a cliché, I go for it. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-don-t-think-there-are-any-clich-s-i-try-to-avoid-as-soon-as-i-spot/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Okay, a truly great song is a song that makes its own aesthetic intentions clear and then lives up to them and exceeds them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/okay-a-truly-great-song-is-a-song-that-makes-its-own-aesthetic/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [If you want to write a love song, you need to not try to write it for a particular person in a particular situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/if-you-want-to-write-a-love-song-you-need-to-not-try-to-write-it-for/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [My mother says I have boring percussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/my-mother-says-i-have-boring-percussion/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I can imagine lyrics becoming better written by smart machines rather than stupid musicians. Songwriters generally have nothing to say. They may as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-can-imagine-lyrics-becoming-better-written-by-smart-machines-rather/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Serious music isn't listened to in a casual setting. You don't want to listen to that in headphones on the subway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/serious-music-isn-t-listened-to-in-a-casual-setting-you-don-t-want-to/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [Well, there are certainly original things to say. But I'm not sure that a pop song is the appropriate format to say them in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/well-there-are-certainly-original-things-to-say-but-i-m-not-sure-that/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) [Explore all 35 Stephin Merritt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [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/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The adventure is when people don't know what they're doing at all. 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