--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I learned with Cecil Taylor was…" description: "\"What I learned with Cecil Taylor was strategy and survival and how to resist temptations and resist getting discouraged.\" — Steve Lacy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/steve-lacy-13386_discouraged_what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-str_1900644.jpg" --- # What I learned with Cecil Taylor was strategy and survival… ![“What I learned with Cecil Taylor was strategy and survival and how to resist temptations and resist getting discouraged.” quote by Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/steve-lacy-13386_discouraged_what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-str_1900644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/steve-lacy-13386_discouraged_what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-str_1900644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/steve-lacy-13386_discouraged_what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-str_1900644.jpg) > “What I learned with Cecil Taylor was strategy and survival and how to resist temptations and resist getting discouraged.” [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning from mentors teaches resilience and resistance to discouragement. **In simple terms:** Mentors teach survival strategies. Key Takeaway Cultivate resilient mindset. Themes mentorship resilience creativity Mood inspirational determined Type self‑help musical When to use this quote - career setbacks - creative blocks - performance anxiety Key Concepts psychology of perseverance artistic development Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you stay motivated? - How can you apply mentorship lessons independently? A Different Perspective Mentorship may not suit all personalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cecil-taylor-522188/) [Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) [Learned Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-cecil-2803584/) [Resist Temptations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resist-temptations-2029231/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Strategy Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy-survival-2803586/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Taylor Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taylor-strategy-2803585/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) ## Related quotes > [Our romance became a key strategy for our survival in the arena. Only it wasn't just a strategy for Peeta.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/our-romance-became-a-key-strategy-for-our-survival-in-the-arena-only/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [The pianist Cecil Taylor is extremely melodic; the guitarist Derek Bailey is extremely melodic, and Ornette Coleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/the-pianist-cecil-taylor-is-extremely-melodic-the-guitarist-derek/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [“It suddenly occurred to me that true believers in hard-driving jazz—Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Cecil Taylor—could never become owners of cleaning shops in malls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-suddenly-occurred-to-me-that-true-believers-in-hard-driving-jazz/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [And when I met Cecil Taylor it was a complete transformation of musical identities. All the tenets that I had grown up with were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-shepp/and-when-i-met-cecil-taylor-it-was-a-complete-transformation-of/) [Archie Shepp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-shepp/) > [When I was in college, I had a jazz radio show. I called it 'Excursion on a Wobbly Rail,' after a Cecil Taylor song.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/when-i-was-in-college-i-had-a-jazz-radio-show-i-called-it-excursion/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [So, I was just a young guy, maybe with an idea, and Cecil Taylor, himself a rebel, would take a chance on a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-shepp/so-i-was-just-a-young-guy-maybe-with-an-idea-and-cecil-taylor-himself/) [Archie Shepp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-shepp/) > [I think I came across Cecil Taylor a bit later, in 65 or 66. That really impressed me - Cecil Taylor is an amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-ferrari/i-think-i-came-across-cecil-taylor-a-bit-later-in-65-or-66-that/) [Luc Ferrari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-ferrari/) > [Everyone is tested. One might think it is unfair to be singled out and subjected to a particular temptation, but this is the purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/everyone-is-tested-one-might-think-it-is-unfair-to-be-singled-out-and/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Every Christian is endued with a power whereby he is enabled to resist temptations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/every-christian-is-endued-with-a-power-whereby-he-is-enabled-to/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Without prayer it is impossible to resist temptations and to keep the commandments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/without-prayer-it-is-impossible-to-resist-temptations-and-to-keep-the/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [I resist my temptations in order to feel i am free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gayle/i-resist-my-temptations-in-order-to-feel-i-am-free/) [Mike Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gayle/) > [My searing desire to atone for having survived helps me resist the temptations to join the world of lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-xiaobo/my-searing-desire-to-atone-for-having-survived-helps-me-resist-the/) [Liu Xiaobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-xiaobo/) > [“Those that are in the state of widowhood must resist the temptations of their youth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-b-brewer/those-that-are-in-the-state-of-widowhood-must-resist-the-temptations/) [Nancy B. Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-b-brewer/) > [The answer is the same for everyone: we must, and we can, resist temptations of any kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/the-answer-is-the-same-for-everyone-we-must-and-we-can-resist/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) ## More by Steve Lacy > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Risk is at the heart of jazz. Every note we play is a risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/risk-is-at-the-heart-of-jazz-every-note-we-play-is-a-risk/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Circumstances can be very important. Find the right people to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/circumstances-can-be-very-important-find-the-right-people-to-work-with/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [The more original something is, the more of a threat it seems until the people catch up with it. That happened with Thelonious Monk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/the-more-original-something-is-the-more-of-a-threat-it-seems-until/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [If you're trying to invent something new, you're going to reach a lot of discouraging points, and most people give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/if-you-re-trying-to-invent-something-new-you-re-going-to-reach-a-lot/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Bamboo is not a weed, it's a flowering plant. Bamboo is a magnificent plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/bamboo-is-not-a-weed-it-s-a-flowering-plant-bamboo-is-a-magnificent/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [There is an awful lot of what I call recreational jazz going on, where people go out and learn a particular language or style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/there-is-an-awful-lot-of-what-i-call-recreational-jazz-going-on-where/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Saxophone is one thing, and music is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/saxophone-is-one-thing-and-music-is-another/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [If you have music you want to play that no one asks you to play, you have to go out and find where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/if-you-have-music-you-want-to-play-that-no-one-asks-you-to-play-you/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [When I found the music of Monk I finally found music that fit that horn. Every one of his tunes fit it perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/when-i-found-the-music-of-monk-i-finally-found-music-that-fit-that/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [I've always been extremely lucky in playing with great people who knew much more than I did. That's how I got from there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/i-ve-always-been-extremely-lucky-in-playing-with-great-people-who/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [It starts with a single sound. If there's something in that sound, then it's worth continuing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/it-starts-with-a-single-sound-if-there-s-something-in-that-sound-then/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Nobody was playing the soprano saxophone and certainly nobody was trying to do anything with it. So I was all alone. I didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/nobody-was-playing-the-soprano-saxophone-and-certainly-nobody-was/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Before the work comes to you, you have to invent work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/before-the-work-comes-to-you-you-have-to-invent-work/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Register is very important. Music sounds best in a certain register.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/register-is-very-important-music-sounds-best-in-a-certain-register/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) [Explore all 50 Steve Lacy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) ## More Discouraged quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Many persons have been confused and discouraged at the very outset of the study by the great variety and the delicate distinctions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/many-persons-have-been-confused-and-discouraged-at-the-very-outset-of/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [I think it's very easy to get discouraged early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/i-think-it-s-very-easy-to-get-discouraged-early-on/) [Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/) > [I am profoundly in the D's - discouraged, depressed, disheartened, disgusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dunbar-nelson/i-am-profoundly-in-the-d-s-discouraged-depressed-disheartened/) [Alice Dunbar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dunbar-nelson/) > [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/) [Dave Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-stevens/) > [I've taken my bumps and bruises, but you've got to be willing to get knocked down and pick yourself up. You can't get discouraged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-o-neal/i-ve-taken-my-bumps-and-bruises-but-you-ve-got-to-be-willing-to-get/) [Jermaine O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-o-neal/) > [I am a little discouraged and irritated at the welfare recipient families growing in size all the time. Those of us who work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilmar-moore/i-am-a-little-discouraged-and-irritated-at-the-welfare-recipient/) [Hilmar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilmar-moore/) > [“The way you pass through the land of Learning is that you try a bunch of things. Fear would love for you to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/the-way-you-pass-through-the-land-of-learning-is-that-you-try-a-bunch/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [I do what I believe the Lord did, and that is walk in love with all mankind, which I don't see a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-smith/i-do-what-i-believe-the-lord-did-and-that-is-walk-in-love-with-all/) [Tasha Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-smith/) > [You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/you-need-never-be-discouraged-or-afraid-the-way-through-difficulties/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Lift up your eyes, discouraged one. When you feel like giving up, when they say it can't be done, it's up to you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-mullins/lift-up-your-eyes-discouraged-one-when-you-feel-like-giving-up-when/) [Matty Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-mullins/) > [I think there are so many young girls out there who may be discouraged by the images they see in magazines or on TV,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-knox/i-think-there-are-so-many-young-girls-out-there-who-may-be/) [Kelly Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-knox/) > [The cure for impatience with the fulfillment of God's timetable is to believe His promises, obey His will, and leave the results to Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-cure-for-impatience-with-the-fulfillment-of-god-s-timetable-is-to/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [I sometimes am discouraged by what seems to be a sort of conventional disparagement of humankind. I think often people feel that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-sometimes-am-discouraged-by-what-seems-to-be-a-sort-of-conventional/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 540 Discouraged quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I learned with Cecil Taylor was strategy and survival and how to resist temptations and resist getting discouraged.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Lacy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-strategy-and-survival-and-how-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discouraged" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-strategy-and-survival-and-how-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/steve-lacy-13386_discouraged_what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-str_1900644.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/steve-lacy-13386_discouraged_what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-str_1900644.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/steve-lacy-13386_discouraged_what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-str_1900644.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I learned with Cecil Taylor was strategy and survival and how to resist temptations and resist getting…” — Steve Lacy", "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": "Steve Lacy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I learned with Cecil Taylor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-strategy-and-survival-and-how-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/what-i-learned-with-cecil-taylor-was-strategy-and-survival-and-how-to/#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 } } ] } ```