--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've sort of decided that I can settle…" description: "\"I've sort of decided that I can settle for being just the artist, arranger, writer and part-time engineer. That seems like enough to do.\" — Tom Scholz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/tom-scholz-11209_art_i-ve-sort-of-decided-that-i-can-settle-f_2538566.png" --- # I've sort of decided that I can settle for being just the… ![“I've sort of decided that I can settle for being just the artist, arranger, writer and part-time engineer. That seems like enough to do.” quote by Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/tom-scholz-11209_art_i-ve-sort-of-decided-that-i-can-settle-f_2538566.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/tom-scholz-11209_art_i-ve-sort-of-decided-that-i-can-settle-f_2538566.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/tom-scholz-11209_art_i-ve-sort-of-decided-that-i-can-settle-f_2538566.png) > “I've sort of decided that I can settle for being just the artist, arranger, writer and part-time engineer. That seems like enough to do.” [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He feels content with a limited creative role, finding satisfaction in multiple artistic tasks without overextending. **In simple terms:** Content with modest artistic duties. Key Takeaway Embrace your chosen creative scope. Themes self‑acceptance creativity balance Mood reflective content pragmatic Type personal career When to use this quote - music production - songwriting - engineering - personal projects Key Concepts identity role definition Questions to Reflect On - Are you truly satisfied with these limits? - What might you miss by not expanding? A Different Perspective May limit growth or broader impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Part time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part-time/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Right now, my career is in three directions: as a performer, as an arranger, as an author - and I don't give any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directions-as-a-performer-as-an/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Yes, but I view Frank's music as fully composed. In other words, the arrangements can work for any idiom such as a rock band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dweezil-zappa/yes-but-i-view-frank-s-music-as-fully-composed-in-other-words-the/) [Dweezil Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dweezil-zappa/) > [I work with this wonderful five-piece band, The Tony Guerrero Quintet, along with Kate Flannery, who was Meredith the Drunk in The Office, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/i-work-with-this-wonderful-five-piece-band-the-tony-guerrero-quintet/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [But, I don't think any arranger should ever write a drum part for a drummer because if a drummer can't create his own Interpretation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-rich/but-i-don-t-think-any-arranger-should-ever-write-a-drum-part-for-a/) [Buddy Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-rich/) > [Simon Hale, the British arranger, does all string and wood arrangements on my records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/simon-hale-the-british-arranger-does-all-string-and-wood-arrangements/) [Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/) > [We spent a month in LA using a pool of musicians, a string arranger called Benjamin Wright, some great backing singers, and it gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kay/we-spent-a-month-in-la-using-a-pool-of-musicians-a-string-arranger/) [Jay Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kay/) > [Jeff Lynne is an arranger, and I think it's probably much easier for him to go ahead and play a part himself than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/jeff-lynne-is-an-arranger-and-i-think-it-s-probably-much-easier-for/) [Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/) > [Then, you know, the other more-traditional role of the producer in, like, the kind of Quincy Jones sense is kind of part arranger. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/then-you-know-the-other-more-traditional-role-of-the-producer-in-like/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [Even before I became a recording artist, I did other things in music. I was a teacher, I did studio work, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-secada/even-before-i-became-a-recording-artist-i-did-other-things-in-music-i/) [Jon Secada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-secada/) > [Ellington is a writer and arranger, as well as a musician and leader. He does movie sound tracks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/ellington-is-a-writer-and-arranger-as-well-as-a-musician-and-leader/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [Almost all the producers I know and dig, like Quincy Jones or Brian Eno, are really musicians first. I'm a composer, an orchestrator, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nile-rodgers/almost-all-the-producers-i-know-and-dig-like-quincy-jones-or-brian/) [Nile Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nile-rodgers/) > [The decision to settle for mediocrity is a real killer. If you settle for just anything, youll never know what youre truly worthy of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-decision-to-settle-for-mediocrity-is-a-real-killer-if-you-settle/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Push yourself. Don't Settle. Just live well. Just LIVE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/push-yourself-don-t-settle-just-live-well-just-live/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [They say opportunity comes but once, but don't settle for just one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/they-say-opportunity-comes-but-once-but-don-t-settle-for-just-one/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Wait for what you deserve. Don't settle, just be patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-joseph/wait-for-what-you-deserve-don-t-settle-just-be-patient/) [Jesse Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-joseph/) ## More by Tom Scholz > [We need a free media, not just freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/we-need-a-free-media-not-just-freedom-of-speech/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I don't like the idea of having to reproduce a recorded song live that I sing. I have enough to do on stage. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-having-to-reproduce-a-recorded-song-live/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [Virtually every magazine, newspaper, TV station and cable channel is owned by a big corporation, and they've squashed stories that they don't want the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/virtually-every-magazine-newspaper-tv-station-and-cable-channel-is/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm certainly aware of the fans. I'm always hoping that what I'm doing is something they'll like, because I do appreciate them. But, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-certainly-aware-of-the-fans-i-m-always-hoping-that-what-i-m-doing/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm a total rink rat. I can do the toe loop, the lutz, a flip, and the Scholz. That's one I invented. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-a-total-rink-rat-i-can-do-the-toe-loop-the-lutz-a-flip-and-the/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I don't work out a lead section and practice it for a day and then lay it down. I don't do that. The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-don-t-work-out-a-lead-section-and-practice-it-for-a-day-and-then/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm going to say this as an ethereal effect, not something that people are necessarily aware of while it's happening, but my theory is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-going-to-say-this-as-an-ethereal-effect-not-something-that-people/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [Music is an escape for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/music-is-an-escape-for-me/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I played in a couple of really crummy bands, including one in the dorm I was in at MIT, for a year or two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-played-in-a-couple-of-really-crummy-bands-including-one-in-the-dorm/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I didn't touch a guitar until I was 20.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-didn-t-touch-a-guitar-until-i-was-20/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [The public has been sold a bill of goods about the free market being a panacea for mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/the-public-has-been-sold-a-bill-of-goods-about-the-free-market-being/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm never too ambitious when I go into the studio. I always know that I'm just going into the studio to work on or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-never-too-ambitious-when-i-go-into-the-studio-i-always-know-that/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [If things aren't going well, music is what I turn to so I can get away from it, to take my mind somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/if-things-aren-t-going-well-music-is-what-i-turn-to-so-i-can-get-away/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I was a fixer, a builder - an inventor - ever since I can remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-was-a-fixer-a-builder-an-inventor-ever-since-i-can-remember/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [There aren't a lot of cover bands that do Boston material or do it well, and the reason for that is that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/there-aren-t-a-lot-of-cover-bands-that-do-boston-material-or-do-it/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) [Explore all 61 Tom Scholz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) ## 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. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've sort of decided that I can settle for being just the artist, arranger, writer and part-time engineer. 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