--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think music affects what words I…" description: "\"I don't think music affects what words I choose to type in what order, within what punctuation, at this point, because I'm rereading and editing each s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/tao-lin-3279_affects_i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i_486254.png" --- # I don't think music affects what words I choose to type in… ![“I don't think music affects what words I choose to type in what order, within what punctuation, at this point, because I'm rereading and editing each sentence, at this point, in my published books, probably 100-150 times each, on average, and listening to probably 20-60 different songs in that time.” quote by Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/tao-lin-3279_affects_i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i_486254.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/tao-lin-3279_affects_i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i_486254.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/tao-lin-3279_affects_i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i_486254.png) > “I don't think music affects what words I choose to type in what order, within what punctuation, at this point, because I'm rereading and editing each sentence, at this point, in my published books, probably 100-150 times each, on average, and listening to probably 20-60 different songs in that time.” [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeatedly listening to music while editing diminishes its influence on word choice, as the writer focuses on revising rather than inspiration. **In simple terms:** Music no longer shapes his writing choices. Key Takeaway Focus on the task, not background stimuli. Themes creativity focus distraction writing music Mood contemplative neutral Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - academic writing - novel drafting - blog posts - songwriting Key Concepts cognitive load habit mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - Do you notice changes in tone when music is present? - Can silence improve clarity? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on background noise can still affect mood or rhythm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [Music affects people in a way that bare facts can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/music-affects-people-in-a-way-that-bare-facts-can-t/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [What I've learned is that music affects the way you feel. A song can change someone's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-archuleta/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-music-affects-the-way-you-feel-a-song-can/) [David Archuleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-archuleta/) > [But I can't listen to music too often. It affects your nerves, makes you want to say stupid, nice things, and stroke the heads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/but-i-can-t-listen-to-music-too-often-it-affects-your-nerves-makes/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [I want to make people feel certain ways when they listen to my music. Whether it's partying or going through relationship problems or grinding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-want-to-make-people-feel-certain-ways-when-they-listen-to-my-music/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [The music industry has been hijacked by corporate interests, but the way music affects people and resonates with them hasn't changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/the-music-industry-has-been-hijacked-by-corporate-interests-but-the/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [“Like most music that affects me deeply, I would never listen to it while others were around, just as I would not pass on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/like-most-music-that-affects-me-deeply-i-would-never-listen-to-it/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [When you get down to it, the way that the music affects you individually is the most important thing, and when you let things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/when-you-get-down-to-it-the-way-that-the-music-affects-you/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Most people have music in the center of their lives. I believe my work sheds light on how music affects us and why it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-mcclary/most-people-have-music-in-the-center-of-their-lives-i-believe-my-work/) [Susan McClary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-mcclary/) > [What Ive learned is that music affects the way you feel. A song can change someones life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-archuleta/what-ive-learned-is-that-music-affects-the-way-you-feel-a-song-can/) [David Archuleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-archuleta/) > [“It is not surprising that music can incite a broad range of emotions, including passion, serenity, and fear. Most of us can recall instances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-wolfe/it-is-not-surprising-that-music-can-incite-a-broad-range-of-emotions/) Patricia Wolfe > [“Mood evidently affects the operation of System 1: when we are uncomfortable and unhappy, we lose touch with our intuition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/mood-evidently-affects-the-operation-of-system-1-when-we-are/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) ## More by Tao Lin > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“i recommend the phrase 'pineapple ass”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-recommend-the-phrase-pineapple-ass/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [I actually don't have...opinions. I'm not being secretive about anything. I just actually don't have opinions about society. I can discern that certain things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-actually-don-t-have-opinions-i-m-not-being-secretive-about-anything/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“Sara would call one of those cops on horses a motherfucker. The cop would avert his eyes. Sara would ask directions for the wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/sara-would-call-one-of-those-cops-on-horses-a-motherfucker-the-cop/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [Do you sometimes look up from the computer and look around the room and know you are alone, I mean really know it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/do-you-sometimes-look-up-from-the-computer-and-look-around-the-room/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [I think mostly the commodifying comes after I've done something that has some other value to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-think-mostly-the-commodifying-comes-after-i-ve-done-something-that/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“The hamster friend said being able to do front rolls didn't make the hamster as good as Bruce Lee, which was not a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/the-hamster-friend-said-being-able-to-do-front-rolls-didn-t-make-the/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“As a teenager, he made screaming noises at night in his room, like a deranged person. He threw his electrical pencil sharpener at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/as-a-teenager-he-made-screaming-noises-at-night-in-his-room-like-a/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“Don't be stupid and awkward," the dolphin says. "You want to walk together or not?" "You are a stupid piece of shit. Go away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/don-t-be-stupid-and-awkward-the-dolphin-says-you-want-to-walk/) [tao lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [I was delivering pizzas at Domino's. I was 17 maybe. I liked it a lot. Just driving in the nice weather and listening to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-was-delivering-pizzas-at-domino-s-i-was-17-maybe-i-liked-it-a-lot/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [loneliness can fly a helicopter through a cut-out shape of a helicopter the same size as the helicopter and that's it's only skill and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/loneliness-can-fly-a-helicopter-through-a-cut-out-shape-of-a/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [Life has never died, which is something that I think people ignore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/life-has-never-died-which-is-something-that-i-think-people-ignore/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“Amoeba ass is so hot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/amoeba-ass-is-so-hot/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“After untangling a cord, then moving the MacBook to the floor, Paul lay beside Erin and meekly pawed her forearm three times, then briefly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/after-untangling-a-cord-then-moving-the-macbook-to-the-floor-paul-lay/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“It was a face that said, “Fuck the world,” but said it reluctantly, and tonelessly, and then apologized, said “Sorry,” but said all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/it-was-a-face-that-said-fuck-the-world-but-said-it-reluctantly-and/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) [Explore all 133 Tao Lin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) ## More Affects quotes > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [“Mood evidently affects the operation of System 1: when we are uncomfortable and unhappy, we lose touch with our intuition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/mood-evidently-affects-the-operation-of-system-1-when-we-are/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Education affects every major challenge we face in society. It creates economic growth, paves the way for peace and stability and helps erase the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/education-affects-every-major-challenge-we-face-in-society-it-creates/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [The so-called skills gap is really a gap in education, and that affects all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-davidson/the-so-called-skills-gap-is-really-a-gap-in-education-and-that/) [Adam Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-davidson/) > [Your environment affects you wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/your-environment-affects-you-wherever-you-are/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [With health, it affects a whole lot of different areas of your body. When it comes to helping, I love kids, so whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciara/with-health-it-affects-a-whole-lot-of-different-areas-of-your-body/) [Ciara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciara/) > [I do know that I think children should be vaccinated because that affects the health of all the other children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-peet/i-do-know-that-i-think-children-should-be-vaccinated-because-that/) [Amanda Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-peet/) > [People always tell me the next stage of my career means moving to New York, but I never will. I don't care how that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/people-always-tell-me-the-next-stage-of-my-career-means-moving-to-new/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [“that each affects the other and tho other affects the next, and the world is full of stories, but the stories are all one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/that-each-affects-the-other-and-tho-other-affects-the-next-and-the/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What happens in one region affects people across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/what-happens-in-one-region-affects-people-across-the-world/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Every role affects you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-benoist/every-role-affects-you/) [Melissa Benoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-benoist/) > [Developing a good, healthy culture is extremely important at a startup. Culture reflects the essence of a startup's operation because it directly affects the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/developing-a-good-healthy-culture-is-extremely-important-at-a-startup/) [Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/) Browse all 240 Affects quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think music affects what words I choose to type in what order, within what punctuation, at this point, because I'm rereading and editing each sentence, at this point, in my published books, probably 100-150 times each, on average, and listening to probably 20-60 different songs in that time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tao Lin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i-choose-to-type-in-what-order/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affects" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i-choose-to-type-in-what-order/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/tao-lin-3279_affects_i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i_486254.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/tao-lin-3279_affects_i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i_486254.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/tao-lin-3279_affects_i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i_486254.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think music affects what words I choose to type in what order, within what punctuation, at this…” — Tao Lin", "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": "Tao Lin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think music affects what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i-choose-to-type-in-what-order/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-don-t-think-music-affects-what-words-i-choose-to-type-in-what-order/#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 } } ] } ```