--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nine Inch Nails was an experiment with me…" description: "\"Nine Inch Nails was an experiment with me in discipline. I realized when I was 23 that I had never really tried anything. Schoolwork came easy to me. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/trent-reznor-1853_discipline_nine-inch-nails-was-an-experiment-with-m_1154060.jpg" --- # Nine Inch Nails was an experiment with me in discipline. I… ![“Nine Inch Nails was an experiment with me in discipline. I realized when I was 23 that I had never really tried anything. Schoolwork came easy to me. I learned to play piano effortlessly. I was coasting. I realized that I was afraid to really, really try something, 100 percent, because I had never…” quote by Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/trent-reznor-1853_discipline_nine-inch-nails-was-an-experiment-with-m_1154060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/trent-reznor-1853_discipline_nine-inch-nails-was-an-experiment-with-m_1154060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/trent-reznor-1853_discipline_nine-inch-nails-was-an-experiment-with-m_1154060.jpg) > “Nine Inch Nails was an experiment with me in discipline. I realized when I was 23 that I had never really tried anything. Schoolwork came easy to me. I learned to play piano effortlessly. I was coasting. I realized that I was afraid to really, really try something, 100 percent, because I had never reached true failure.” [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized his fear of failure kept him from fully committing to new challenges. **In simple terms:** Fear of failure limited his growth. Key Takeaway Embrace failure to unlock potential. Themes self-doubt growth risk Mood reflective inspirational Type creative philosophical When to use this quote - Learning a new skill - career change - artistic projects Key Concepts Psychology of fear creative discipline Questions to Reflect On - What would you try if failure were guaranteed? - How can you reframe setbacks? A Different Perspective Failure can be demotivating if not reframed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Schoolwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schoolwork/) ## Related quotes > [Though I still have no semblance of a life outside of Nine Inch Nails at the moment, I realize my goals have gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/though-i-still-have-no-semblance-of-a-life-outside-of-nine-inch-nails/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I've always liked the heavier stuff. I've always loved Tool and System of a Down, Korn and Nine Inch Nails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-springfield/i-ve-always-liked-the-heavier-stuff-i-ve-always-loved-tool-and-system/) [Rick Springfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-springfield/) > [Nine Inch Nails' sound is dominated by clanging synths and sardonic, shrieking vocals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-azerrad/nine-inch-nails-sound-is-dominated-by-clanging-synths-and-sardonic/) [Michael Azerrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-azerrad/) > [Things on the essential list: vodka, Nine Inch Nails, a steady supply of mortal men, and an all-purpose bitchy attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/things-on-the-essential-list-vodka-nine-inch-nails-a-steady-supply-of/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Four inch nails is more like it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/four-inch-nails-is-more-like-it/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [I love James Taylor, Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith and Nine Inch Nails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/i-love-james-taylor-jeff-buckley-elliott-smith-and-nine-inch-nails/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [As long as it feels valid to me and feels sincere, I'll do what I do under the moniker of Nine Inch Nails if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/as-long-as-it-feels-valid-to-me-and-feels-sincere-i-ll-do-what-i-do/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [It probably wasn't until Nine Inch Nails played the first Lollapalooza that I actually went to a festival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/it-probably-wasn-t-until-nine-inch-nails-played-the-first/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Nine Inch Nails is like building an army to go conquer. We build it, then we play, and we have to play so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/nine-inch-nails-is-like-building-an-army-to-go-conquer-we-build-it/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Nine Inch Nails was born out of Cleveland, Ohio, with me and a friend in a studio working on demos at night. Got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/nine-inch-nails-was-born-out-of-cleveland-ohio-with-me-and-a-friend/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Self-examination with a close-up mirror in an antiseptic environment is what Nine Inch Nails is based on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/self-examination-with-a-close-up-mirror-in-an-antiseptic-environment/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [There's always been an element of 'right time, right place' to Nine Inch Nails. When we stepped onstage at Woodstock '94, I could sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/there-s-always-been-an-element-of-right-time-right-place-to-nine-inch/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [A lot of what I've done as Nine Inch Nails has been governed by fear. I was trying to keep the songs in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/a-lot-of-what-i-ve-done-as-nine-inch-nails-has-been-governed-by-fear/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [In Nine Inch Nails, I've been the guy calling the shots since inception. I'd gotten used to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/in-nine-inch-nails-i-ve-been-the-guy-calling-the-shots-since/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [With a Nine Inch Nails show, I'm building on a legacy that comes with a certain set of expectations. I have to push that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/with-a-nine-inch-nails-show-i-m-building-on-a-legacy-that-comes-with/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## More by Trent Reznor > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Perfect little dream, The kind that hurts the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/perfect-little-dream-the-kind-that-hurts-the-most/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Sometimes the worst thing that can happen is, 'Oh, I'm on stage playing a song,' because you're daydreaming about something else, you're on autopilot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/sometimes-the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-is-oh-i-m-on-stage-playing/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [To switch right into creativity usually takes a bit of time, and this came up right at that juncture where I thought, okay, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/to-switch-right-into-creativity-usually-takes-a-bit-of-time-and-this/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realized-the-entire-business-has/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I had to come to terms about becoming an addict, which, for a long time, I lied to myself about the status of until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-had-to-come-to-terms-about-becoming-an-addict-which-for-a-long-time/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Left to my own devices, in the face of the climate change deniers, the madness and the greed-based decision-making, and propaganda that's been floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/left-to-my-own-devices-in-the-face-of-the-climate-change-deniers-the/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [It probably wasn't until Nine Inch Nails played the first Lollapalooza that I actually went to a festival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/it-probably-wasn-t-until-nine-inch-nails-played-the-first/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The band Grizzly Bear, I think they're excellent. There's a beauty and a musicality there that I wish would have been in vogue in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/the-band-grizzly-bear-i-think-they-re-excellent-there-s-a-beauty-and/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I'll be honest, watching the music industry collapse has been demoralizing and disheartening at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-ll-be-honest-watching-the-music-industry-collapse-has-been/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Schoolwork came easy to me. I learned to play piano effortlessly. I was coasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/schoolwork-came-easy-to-me-i-learned-to-play-piano-effortlessly-i-was/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Lots of people can have girlfriends. But I can throw around guitars onstage! That'll be my epitaph: 'He never had a girlfriend, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/lots-of-people-can-have-girlfriends-but-i-can-throw-around-guitars/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [My experience with record labels throughout my career has generally fallen into wishing I could do things that they're not built to do, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/my-experience-with-record-labels-throughout-my-career-has-generally/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [If you have something to say, then say it. Express yourself and break the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/if-you-have-something-to-say-then-say-it-express-yourself-and-break/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The first set of lyrics for the first songs I ever wrote, which are the ones on 'Pretty Hate Machine,' came from private journal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/the-first-set-of-lyrics-for-the-first-songs-i-ever-wrote-which-are/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) [Explore all 203 Trent Reznor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## More Discipline quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) W.J. Turner > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Stay in your seat come times of trouble. Its only people who jump off the roller coaster who get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harvey/stay-in-your-seat-come-times-of-trouble-its-only-people-who-jump-off/) [Paul Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harvey/) [Browse all 5,597 Discipline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nine Inch Nails was an experiment with me in discipline. I realized when I was 23 that I had never really tried anything. Schoolwork came easy to me. I learned to play piano effortlessly. I was coasting. 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