--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is like breathing to us, and to ignore…" description: "\"“It is like breathing to us, and to ignore math in this story would be akin to listening to Frank Zappa without ever having taken hallucinogens, an inc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/stuart-rojstaczer-19719_frank-zappa_it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore_3157213.jpg" --- # It is like breathing to us, and to ignore math in this… ![“It is like breathing to us, and to ignore math in this story would be akin to listening to Frank Zappa without ever having taken hallucinogens, an incomplete experience.” quote by Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/stuart-rojstaczer-19719_frank-zappa_it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore_3157213.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/stuart-rojstaczer-19719_frank-zappa_it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore_3157213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/stuart-rojstaczer-19719_frank-zappa_it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore_3157213.jpg) > ““It is like breathing to us, and to ignore math in this story would be akin to listening to Frank Zappa without ever having taken hallucinogens, an incomplete experience.”” [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Math is essential to fully experience certain narratives, just as hallucinogens are to appreciating Frank Zappa's music. **In simple terms:** Math is key to complete understanding. Key Takeaway Embrace math to enrich experiences. Themes education culture perception Mood thoughtful introspective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - reading complex stories - listening to music - educational curricula - creative projects Key Concepts mathematics artistic appreciation Questions to Reflect On - How does math change your view of art? - Can you experience art without analytical tools? A Different Perspective Some may view math as unnecessary in artistic contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [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/) > [I started making records and touring when I was 15, first with Frank Zappa's son Dweezil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freese/i-started-making-records-and-touring-when-i-was-15-first-with-frank/) [Josh Freese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freese/) > [My father was a studio musician, played for a lot of people like Frank Zappa and a lot of R&B bands, and was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/synyster-gates/my-father-was-a-studio-musician-played-for-a-lot-of-people-like-frank/) [Synyster Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/synyster-gates/) > [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/) > [“I began to recall my own experience when I was Mercutio’s age (late teens I decided, a year or two older than Romeo) as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-began-to-recall-my-own-experience-when-i-was-mercutio-s-age-late/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [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/) > [I was in school with Dweezil Zappa, Frank Zappa's son, and we had a band. Only in L.A. could stuff like that happen. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kurstin/i-was-in-school-with-dweezil-zappa-frank-zappa-s-son-and-we-had-a/) [Greg Kurstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kurstin/) ## More by Stuart Rojstaczer > [“Our capacity for love isn’t like a gallon jug that you fill up from rest stop to rest stop as you take a drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/our-capacity-for-love-isn-t-like-a-gallon-jug-that-you-fill-up-from/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“The love I have given and received has been pure. Driven by loss, I have both used the gift of intellect I possessed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/the-love-i-have-given-and-received-has-been-pure-driven-by-loss-i/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“To Americans, the outward display of intelligence is considered unseemly. The Donald Trumps of the world can boast about their penthouses and Ferraris, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/to-americans-the-outward-display-of-intelligence-is-considered/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“Do not fall in love with someone when that love is heavily dependent on the goodwill and kindness of your parents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/do-not-fall-in-love-with-someone-when-that-love-is-heavily-dependent/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“We aren’t rednecks. We’re European. Big difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/we-aren-t-rednecks-we-re-european-big-difference/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“I decided to practice revenge in a calmer way, by living well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/i-decided-to-practice-revenge-in-a-calmer-way-by-living-well/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“This effort to appear dumb—or to put a positive spin on it, to “be a man of the people”—takes a lot of work that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/this-effort-to-appear-dumb-or-to-put-a-positive-spin-on-it-to-be-a/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“We’re like rednecks then, zaydeh.” “What are you talking about? I was educated well. I know six languages. I manage the family investment portfolio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/we-re-like-rednecks-then-zaydeh-what-are-you-talking-about-i-was/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“I didn’t know, even vaguely, the difference between physical deprivation and the emotional loss of one’s child, even when you know that child is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/i-didn-t-know-even-vaguely-the-difference-between-physical/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“Her craziness was happily wed to her intellect. There are no reasonable geniuses in this world, I am convinced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/her-craziness-was-happily-wed-to-her-intellect-there-are-no/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“Tornadoes are a good metaphor for how bad things happen in our lives. They build from small disturbances that usually don’t mean a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/tornadoes-are-a-good-metaphor-for-how-bad-things-happen-in-our-lives/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“But there was a difference between being bright and possessing those sparks of ideas that lead to original thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/but-there-was-a-difference-between-being-bright-and-possessing-those/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“But grief always hits hard and somehow lingers longer than exultation in your mind and heart,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/but-grief-always-hits-hard-and-somehow-lingers-longer-than-exultation/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“There is no such thing as unnecessary beauty, whether it be physical or intellectual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/there-is-no-such-thing-as-unnecessary-beauty-whether-it-be-physical/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) > [“While great hair and teeth are a good start to a political career, an ability to pretend at least half convincingly that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/while-great-hair-and-teeth-are-a-good-start-to-a-political-career-an/) [Stuart Rojstaczer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) [Explore all 32 Stuart Rojstaczer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/) ## More Frank Zappa quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [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 began to recall my own experience when I was Mercutio’s age (late teens I decided, a year or two older than Romeo) as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-began-to-recall-my-own-experience-when-i-was-mercutio-s-age-late/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [... 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [My father was a studio musician, played for a lot of people like Frank Zappa and a lot of R&B bands, and was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/synyster-gates/my-father-was-a-studio-musician-played-for-a-lot-of-people-like-frank/) [Synyster Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/synyster-gates/) > [I started making records and touring when I was 15, first with Frank Zappa's son Dweezil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freese/i-started-making-records-and-touring-when-i-was-15-first-with-frank/) [Josh Freese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freese/) > [I was in school with Dweezil Zappa, Frank Zappa's son, and we had a band. Only in L.A. could stuff like that happen. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kurstin/i-was-in-school-with-dweezil-zappa-frank-zappa-s-son-and-we-had-a/) [Greg Kurstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kurstin/) Browse all 47 Frank Zappa quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is like breathing to us, and to ignore math in this story would be akin to listening to Frank Zappa without ever having taken hallucinogens, an incomplete experience.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stuart Rojstaczer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore-math-in-this-story-would-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Frank Zappa" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore-math-in-this-story-would-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/stuart-rojstaczer-19719_frank-zappa_it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore_3157213.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/stuart-rojstaczer-19719_frank-zappa_it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore_3157213.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/stuart-rojstaczer-19719_frank-zappa_it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore_3157213.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is like breathing to us, and to ignore math in this story would be akin to listening to Frank Zappa…” — Stuart Rojstaczer", "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": "Stuart Rojstaczer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rojstaczer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is like breathing to us,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore-math-in-this-story-would-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rojstaczer/it-is-like-breathing-to-us-and-to-ignore-math-in-this-story-would-be/#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 } } ] } ```