--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When stealing from other players, an…" description: "\"“When stealing from other players, an older musician wisely advised me, choose a different instrument from your own, and people won’t notice the theft...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/ted-gioia-47743_instruments_when-stealing-from-other-players-an-olde_3161907.jpg" --- # When stealing from other players, an older musician wisely… ![“When stealing from other players, an older musician wisely advised me, choose a different instrument from your own, and people won’t notice the theft.” quote by Ted Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/ted-gioia-47743_instruments_when-stealing-from-other-players-an-olde_3161907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/ted-gioia-47743_instruments_when-stealing-from-other-players-an-olde_3161907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/ted-gioia-47743_instruments_when-stealing-from-other-players-an-olde_3161907.jpg) > ““When stealing from other players, an older musician wisely advised me, choose a different instrument from your own, and people won’t notice the theft.”” [Ted Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gioia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a different instrument to imitate others' work hides the plagiarism because it's less obvious, allowing covert borrowing. **In simple terms:** Imitate subtly to avoid detection. Key Takeaway Use indirect inspiration, not direct copying. Themes creativity ethics music originality Mood reflective critical Type advice ethical When to use this quote - band practice - songwriting - studio production - live performance Key Concepts intellectual property artistic influence Questions to Reflect On - How does subtle imitation affect artistic integrity? - When is borrowing acceptable? A Different Perspective May still be unethical if intent is deception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Musician Wisely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician-wisely-5718751/) [Older Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-musician-5718752/) [Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing/) [Stealing Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing-players-5718753/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) ## Related quotes > [“It's always easier to take something than work for it...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/it-s-always-easier-to-take-something-than-work-for-it/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [All money represents theft… To steal from the rich is a sacred and religious act. While looting, a man to his own self is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/all-money-represents-theft-to-steal-from-the-rich-is-a-sacred-and/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [“The moment her hymen was plucked from her body in the wilderness, Her soul was taken from sanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/the-moment-her-hymen-was-plucked-from-her-body-in-the-wilderness-her/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“Fear is a thief because fear robs you before you even begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fear-is-a-thief-because-fear-robs-you-before-you-even-begin/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Virtuosi have been long remarked to have little conscience in their favorite pursuits. 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As most beautiful things eventually are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-dorst/it-was-stolen-as-most-beautiful-things-eventually-are/) [Doug Dorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-dorst/) > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Your thief looks Exactly like the rest, or rather better; 'Tis only at the bar, and in the dungeon, That wise men know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/your-thief-looks-exactly-like-the-rest-or-rather-better-tis-only-at/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someones right to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-only-one-sin-and-that-is-theft-when-you-tell-a-lie-you-steal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ted Gioia > [“Art and disease proliferate via contagion, and similar conditions favor both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gioia/art-and-disease-proliferate-via-contagion-and-similar-conditions/) [Ted Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gioia/) > [“In America, music was the first sphere of social interaction in which racial barriers were challenged and overturned. And the challenge went both ways:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gioia/in-america-music-was-the-first-sphere-of-social-interaction-in-which/) [Ted Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gioia/) > [“As recently as the twentieth century, some cultures retained religious prohibitions asserting the “uncleanliness” of believers eating at the same table as musicians.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gioia/as-recently-as-the-twentieth-century-some-cultures-retained-religious/) [Ted Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gioia/) > [“By the way, this tells you why Auto-Tuned vocals on many contemporary records sound so shallow and lifeless. 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