--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think there are always people who, when…" description: "\"I think there are always people who, when they get the bug to play an instrument, they want to get as good as they can with it rather than just be simp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/todd-rundgren-3427_adequate_i-think-there-are-always-people-who-when_868357.jpg" --- # I think there are always people who, when they get the bug… ![“I think there are always people who, when they get the bug to play an instrument, they want to get as good as they can with it rather than just be simply adequate at it. You run into them every once in a while - some kid who wants to be the next Stevie Ray Vaughan, for whatever reason, and plays…” quote by Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/todd-rundgren-3427_adequate_i-think-there-are-always-people-who-when_868357.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/todd-rundgren-3427_adequate_i-think-there-are-always-people-who-when_868357.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2b/todd-rundgren-3427_adequate_i-think-there-are-always-people-who-when_868357.jpg) > “I think there are always people who, when they get the bug to play an instrument, they want to get as good as they can with it rather than just be simply adequate at it. You run into them every once in a while - some kid who wants to be the next Stevie Ray Vaughan, for whatever reason, and plays exactly like him.” [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often strive for mastery over genuine expression, chasing perfection instead of embracing adequacy. **In simple terms:** Chasing perfection over authenticity. Key Takeaway Embrace playing for joy, not just skill. Themes music perfectionism creativity Mood reflective inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - learning an instrument - teaching beginners - band practice - personal development Key Concepts Self‑efficacy growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What drives your desire for mastery? - How can you balance skill and enjoyment? A Different Perspective Perfection can stifle creativity and cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Stevie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stevie/) ## Related quotes > [My guitar setup is inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/my-guitar-setup-is-inspired-by-stevie-ray-vaughan/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [When you're fat, the world is divided into two groups - people who bug you and people who leave you alone. The funny thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/when-you-re-fat-the-world-is-divided-into-two-groups-people-who-bug/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Every time I went out, someone had to look at me or talk to me, and I just got sick of it. Now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mccarroll/every-time-i-went-out-someone-had-to-look-at-me-or-talk-to-me-and-i/) Jay McCarroll > [I want to learn how to play an instrument. I want to break a world record. I'm just a very determined, motivated type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/i-want-to-learn-how-to-play-an-instrument-i-want-to-break-a-world/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) > [Anyone can pick up an instrument if they want to express themselves or write a song and put it on YouTube. It's always technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalip-tahil/anyone-can-pick-up-an-instrument-if-they-want-to-express-themselves/) [Dalip Tahil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalip-tahil/) > [Being an actor means being an instrument for someone else. I want to give myself completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-deneuve/being-an-actor-means-being-an-instrument-for-someone-else-i-want-to/) [Catherine Deneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-deneuve/) > [So, for instance, if you came to me, I'd ask, 'Do you want to write? Do you want to improvise? Why do you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/so-for-instance-if-you-came-to-me-i-d-ask-do-you-want-to-write-do-you/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I want to sound like an instrument. I want my voice and my words to marry the beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-want-to-sound-like-an-instrument-i-want-my-voice-and-my-words-to-2/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [When I was in school, you could pick any instrument you want, and they'd teach you how to play it. That changed my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/when-i-was-in-school-you-could-pick-any-instrument-you-want-and-they/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [I was reading an article with Stevie Ray Vaughan a long time ago, and the number '1959' stuck out to me for some reason.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccready/i-was-reading-an-article-with-stevie-ray-vaughan-a-long-time-ago-and/) [Mike McCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccready/) > [I used to watch MTV when they played music, and discovered Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Healey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-used-to-watch-mtv-when-they-played-music-and-discovered-robert-cray/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I used to sit for hours and copy every lick on those early AC/DC and Kiss records. From there, I went on to Eric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccready/i-used-to-sit-for-hours-and-copy-every-lick-on-those-early-ac-dc-and/) [Mike McCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccready/) > [I've always been a fan of Buddy Guy as a guitarist, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan and those blues guys. I'd say those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-buddy-guy-as-a-guitarist-as-well-as-stevie/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [Stevie Ray Vaughan was very intense. Maybe that's what caught everybody's attention. As a player, he didn't do anything amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-blackmore/stevie-ray-vaughan-was-very-intense-maybe-that-s-what-caught/) [Ritchie Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-blackmore/) > [I was inspired to play electric guitar from listening to a lot of Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King, and that's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-was-inspired-to-play-electric-guitar-from-listening-to-a-lot-of/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) ## More by Todd Rundgren > [I suppose people also have to be a little more careful or circumspect if they're going to leverage their celebrity to promote their political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-suppose-people-also-have-to-be-a-little-more-careful-or-circumspect/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [It's the only way that YOUR life is gonna have any value to you. If you're just living the same life that everybody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/it-s-the-only-way-that-your-life-is-gonna-have-any-value-to-you-if/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [Once I go on stage, the atmosphere is totally theatrical. The greater the illusion, the greater the intensity of the excitement it creates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/once-i-go-on-stage-the-atmosphere-is-totally-theatrical-the-greater/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I know that I could make this world peaceful and calm, if I only could get my hands on a hydrogen bomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-know-that-i-could-make-this-world-peaceful-and-calm-if-i-only-could/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [The Toddstock thing is the closest thing, I have to say, a Grateful Dead sort of thing where it all lapses over from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/the-toddstock-thing-is-the-closest-thing-i-have-to-say-a-grateful/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [By the time my first solo record came out, I was making a handsome living as a record producer. 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