--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the thing that I got most from…" description: "\"I think the thing that I got most from working with Frank Zappa is that I was able to see someone who completely independent. The most beautiful thing ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/steve-vai-7290_able_i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-w_2214138.jpg" --- # I think the thing that I got most from working with Frank… ![“I think the thing that I got most from working with Frank Zappa is that I was able to see someone who completely independent. The most beautiful thing about Frank was that he was completely in the moment and present and eternally creative.” quote by Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/steve-vai-7290_able_i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-w_2214138.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/steve-vai-7290_able_i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-w_2214138.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/steve-vai-7290_able_i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-w_2214138.jpg) > “I think the thing that I got most from working with Frank Zappa is that I was able to see someone who completely independent. The most beautiful thing about Frank was that he was completely in the moment and present and eternally creative.” [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing Frank Zappa revealed how total independence fuels constant creativity and presence. **In simple terms:** Zappa’s independence made him endlessly creative and present. Key Takeaway Embrace independence to stay creative. Themes creativity independence presence artistry Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - musicianship - creative workshops - personal development - leadership Key Concepts mindfulness flow innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay independent without losing collaboration? - What practices keep you present? A Different Perspective Independence can lead to isolation or lack of collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beautiful things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-things/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Eternally Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternally-creative-4915708/) [Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frank/) [Frank Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frank-completely-4915706/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frank-zappa/) [Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent/) [Independent Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-beautiful-1252706/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zappa/) [Zappa Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zappa-able-4915707/) ## Related quotes > [When Frank Zappa would get an idea for a song, he just did it. He didn't wait for anybody or expect anyone to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/when-frank-zappa-would-get-an-idea-for-a-song-he-just-did-it-he-didn/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Frank Zappa was one of the gods of the Czech underground, I thought of him as a friend. Whenever I feel like escaping from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/frank-zappa-was-one-of-the-gods-of-the-czech-underground-i-thought-of/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [The mother of invention in music is necessity, not Frank Zappa!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/the-mother-of-invention-in-music-is-necessity-not-frank-zappa/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [I think there's plenty of room, even in the most serious activist circles, for humor. Humor can be very effective both to inspire, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/i-think-there-s-plenty-of-room-even-in-the-most-serious-activist/) [Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/) > [It's nice to hear when someone gets something and the sincerity is enough to tickle you. They can have the wrong notes but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/it-s-nice-to-hear-when-someone-gets-something-and-the-sincerity-is/) [Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/) > [Interviewer: 'So Frank, you have long hair. Does that make you a woman?' Frank Zappa: 'You have a wooden leg. Does that make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/interviewer-so-frank-you-have-long-hair-does-that-make-you-a-woman/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [ Frank \[Zappa\]'s music was never for the mass audience. His music contains specific kinds of information that you won't find elsewhere in rock and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/frank-zappa-s-music-was-never-for-the-mass-audience-his-music/) [Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/) > [The amazing thing about Freak Out! was that there was nothing quite like it in rock 'n roll at the time. It was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/the-amazing-thing-about-freak-out-was-that-there-was-nothing-quite/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [Some great experiences I've had and little by little I've come to the realization that everything Frank Zappa told me was the truth, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/some-great-experiences-i-ve-had-and-little-by-little-i-ve-come-to-the/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [... Jeff Beck is my idol .. sometimes he finds notes that I just do not have on my guitar. Frank Zappa's another one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-blackmore/jeff-beck-is-my-idol-sometimes-he-finds-notes-that-i-just-do-not-have/) [Ritchie Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-blackmore/) > [When I was growing up, when I was 11 years old I was listening to The Mothers of Invention. You know, I mean I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-i-was-growing-up-when-i-was-11-years-old-i-was-listening-to-the/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I'm one of those people who sees Frank Zappa in a cup of coffee, or elephants wrestling in clouds. But also, conscious creation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idara-victor/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-sees-frank-zappa-in-a-cup-of-coffee-or/) [Idara Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idara-victor/) > [ Frank \[Zappa\] said he probably would have been a major criminal, given his brain power and his attention to detail, had he not been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/frank-zappa-said-he-probably-would-have-been-a-major-criminal-given/) [Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/) > [Somebody under 30, if the name Frank Zappa came up, they would just say, "Who?" To me that didn't sit well, because I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dweezil-zappa/somebody-under-30-if-the-name-frank-zappa-came-up-they-would-just-say/) [Dweezil Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dweezil-zappa/) > [There was a lot of camaraderie among the bands. I remember a lot of times when I'd be driving up Laurel Canyon and pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-millington/there-was-a-lot-of-camaraderie-among-the-bands-i-remember-a-lot-of/) [June Millington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-millington/) ## More by Steve Vai > [I designed a guitar for Ibanez and then they started manufacturing it - it's called the Jem - it's 26 years old and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-designed-a-guitar-for-ibanez-and-then-they-started-manufacturing-it/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [You can never deny the immense talent, rock credibility and iconic historical contribution that Van Halen made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/you-can-never-deny-the-immense-talent-rock-credibility-and-iconic/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I can tell you this: I'm an extremely passionate individual. I try to be careful how I display it because you never know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-can-tell-you-this-i-m-an-extremely-passionate-individual-i-try-to/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I don't believe in 'greatest'. I believe in favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-don-t-believe-in-greatest-i-believe-in-favorites/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Along with its enchanting and exquisite melodies, West Side Story has attitude and a tremendous amount of frenetic energy. It's emotional, theatrical and technical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/along-with-its-enchanting-and-exquisite-melodies-west-side-story-has/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I have a deep love for life and my fellow human beings. I try to understand everything that everybody does, even if it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-have-a-deep-love-for-life-and-my-fellow-human-beings-i-try-to/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I've never really heard anybody imitating anything of mine the way they do with Edward Van Halen's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-ve-never-really-heard-anybody-imitating-anything-of-mine-the-way/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-is-the-way-you-re-thinking/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [My main calling in life is to seek and achieve spiritual balance, and to express that through my instrument. Everything else is here today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/my-main-calling-in-life-is-to-seek-and-achieve-spiritual-balance-and/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [There's very notable dynamics in all of the collaborations I've done. It's hard to say if one is more important than the other, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/there-s-very-notable-dynamics-in-all-of-the-collaborations-i-ve-done/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I awake, I meditate, get the kids off to school, go to the gym, go to the Favored Nations office, and usually at around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-awake-i-meditate-get-the-kids-off-to-school-go-to-the-gym-go-to-the/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I think every artist subconsciously wants to evolve themselves. Sometimes they get stuck in ruts because of pop culture, peer pressure, stuff like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-think-every-artist-subconsciously-wants-to-evolve-themselves/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Baby don't wake me, let me take you on an endless journey. We touch and the softest kiss explodes with lust. It's real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/baby-don-t-wake-me-let-me-take-you-on-an-endless-journey-we-touch-and/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [We have the insight and the tools to identify and bring to fruition the dormant talent that our artists possess. Favored Nations will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/we-have-the-insight-and-the-tools-to-identify-and-bring-to-fruition/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [That's the thing about great artists: They find the thing that's most obvious to themselves, what's most conscious and natural, and they put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/that-s-the-thing-about-great-artists-they-find-the-thing-that-s-most/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) [Explore all 92 Steve Vai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [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/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the thing that I got most from working with Frank Zappa is that I was able to see someone who completely independent. The most beautiful thing about Frank was that he was completely in the moment and present and eternally creative.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Vai" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-working-with-frank-zappa-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-working-with-frank-zappa-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/steve-vai-7290_able_i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-w_2214138.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/steve-vai-7290_able_i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-w_2214138.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/751/steve-vai-7290_able_i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-w_2214138.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the thing that I got most from working with Frank Zappa is that I was able to see someone who…” — Steve Vai", "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 Vai", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the thing that I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-working-with-frank-zappa-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-think-the-thing-that-i-got-most-from-working-with-frank-zappa-is/#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 } } ] } ```