--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, I don't think my music is…" description: "\"You know, I don't think my music is important, I don't think it's changing the world, I don't think it's art. I just think it's music. It is what it is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/sufjan-stevens-5325_art_you-know-i-don-t-think-my-music-is-impor_2207812.jpg" --- # You know, I don't think my music is important, I don't… ![“You know, I don't think my music is important, I don't think it's changing the world, I don't think it's art. I just think it's music. It is what it is.” quote by Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/sufjan-stevens-5325_art_you-know-i-don-t-think-my-music-is-impor_2207812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/sufjan-stevens-5325_art_you-know-i-don-t-think-my-music-is-impor_2207812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/sufjan-stevens-5325_art_you-know-i-don-t-think-my-music-is-impor_2207812.jpg) > “You know, I don't think my music is important, I don't think it's changing the world, I don't think it's art. I just think it's music. It is what it is.” [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) ## 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 downplays the cultural impact of his work, viewing it simply as music without grand significance. **In simple terms:** He sees his music as just music, not art or a world changer. Key Takeaway Accept music for what it is, without over‑inflating its purpose. Themes humility artistic identity self‑perception Mood reflective humble Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - music production - public interviews - media appearances Key Concepts existentialism creative authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever feel your work has unintended impact? - How does simplifying your view affect your creativity? A Different Perspective It may underestimate music’s subtle influence on listeners and culture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Changing the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-the-world/) [Changing World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-world/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Is Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-is-important/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I feed on other people's creativity, photographers, artists of every kind. Sometimes a feeling that you get listening to a song can be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-feed-on-other-people-s-creativity-photographers-artists-of-every/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [Music is important, but it's really not that serious, you know? It's about love, it's about family, it's about friends... They remind me, 'girl,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doechii/music-is-important-but-it-s-really-not-that-serious-you-know-it-s/) [Doechii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doechii/) > [Believe it or not, there are places in the world where music is important. There are places in the world where all the arts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/believe-it-or-not-there-are-places-in-the-world-where-music-is/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Hip hop music is important precisely because it sheds light on contemporary politics, history, and race. At its best, hip hop gives voice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hip-hop-music-is-important-precisely-because-it-sheds-light-on/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Music is important. It says things you heart can't say any other way, and in a language everyone speaks. Music crosses borders, turns smiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/music-is-important-it-says-things-you-heart-can-t-say-any-other-way/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [I'm a little tired. I haven't been out for more than five or six weeks in the States, and that's really a lot for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pass/i-m-a-little-tired-i-haven-t-been-out-for-more-than-five-or-six-weeks/) [Joe Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pass/) > [All music is important if it comes from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/all-music-is-important-if-it-comes-from-the-heart/) [Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/) > [Country music is important to me, and I love it, but it's not my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/country-music-is-important-to-me-and-i-love-it-but-it-s-not-my-whole-2/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [Music is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-colter/music-is-important/) [Jessi Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-colter/) > [Country music is important to me, and I love it, but it's not my whole life... I like to be outdoors, I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/country-music-is-important-to-me-and-i-love-it-but-it-s-not-my-whole/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [You don't ever want to devalue music. Music is important; it's necessary product. I always try to make sure that there's a value -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coppola-schwartzman/you-don-t-ever-want-to-devalue-music-music-is-important-it-s/) [Robert Coppola Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coppola-schwartzman/) > [Rock music is important to people , because it allows them to escape this crazy world. It allows them not to run away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/rock-music-is-important-to-people-because-it-allows-them-to-escape/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Music is important for one's health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/music-is-important-for-one-s-health/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [To be honest, I think music is such an important part of life, not just for acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/to-be-honest-i-think-music-is-such-an-important-part-of-life-not-just/) [HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/) > [I think you can see that in the show. Music was my touchstone. Music is still much more important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mcculloch/i-think-you-can-see-that-in-the-show-music-was-my-touchstone-music-is/) [Bruce McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mcculloch/) ## More by Sufjan Stevens > [I like residing in abstraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/i-like-residing-in-abstraction/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Perhaps we have failed as human beings. Perhaps we have embarrassed ourselves to the natural world. We have been rigorous and willful in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/perhaps-we-have-failed-as-human-beings-perhaps-we-have-embarrassed/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Everyone suffers; life is pain; and death is the final punctuation at the end of that sentence, so deal with it. I really think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/everyone-suffers-life-is-pain-and-death-is-the-final-punctuation-at/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [One of my strongest memories is my father playing bongos in the living room in Detroit listening to Motown radio. He was this skinny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/one-of-my-strongest-memories-is-my-father-playing-bongos-in-the/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [I think musicians should stay off television generally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/i-think-musicians-should-stay-off-television-generally/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [“Now that I fell into your arms My only lover, give out to give in I search for the capsule I lost”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/now-that-i-fell-into-your-arms-my-only-lover-give-out-to-give-in-i/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [There's a sense of urgency in understanding that your body is not really your own. We can control it to a certain extent through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/there-s-a-sense-of-urgency-in-understanding-that-your-body-is-not/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [I felt that there's an obligation when writing a piece about an urban expressway made in the 50s to acknowledge the context, and Robert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/i-felt-that-there-s-an-obligation-when-writing-a-piece-about-an-urban/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [“I forgive you, mother, I can hear you And I long to be near you But every road leads to an end Yes every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/i-forgive-you-mother-i-can-hear-you-and-i-long-to-be-near-you-but/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [The best fiction is geared towards conflict. We learn most about our characters through tension, when they are put up against insurmountable obstacles. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/the-best-fiction-is-geared-towards-conflict-we-learn-most-about-our/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Some of my music requires an obsessive-compulsive approach and a real embodiment of excessiveness. So I really have to live in that world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/some-of-my-music-requires-an-obsessive-compulsive-approach-and-a-real/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Every time Jimmy Scott sings, it's the same but slightly different. I don't know how he does that or where he gets that from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/every-time-jimmy-scott-sings-it-s-the-same-but-slightly-different-i/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [“I always knew you In your mothers arms I have called your name I have an idea Placed in your mind To be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/i-always-knew-you-in-your-mothers-arms-i-have-called-your-name-i-have/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Life is all about toiling and labor. But obviously I get great joy in confronting challenge and taking risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/life-is-all-about-toiling-and-labor-but-obviously-i-get-great-joy-in/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [I no longer really have faith in the album anymore. I no longer have faith in the song,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/i-no-longer-really-have-faith-in-the-album-anymore-i-no-longer-have/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) [Explore all 101 Sufjan Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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