--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got myself into a lovely little shall…" description: "\"I got myself into a lovely little shall we say controversy with André Breton, by pointing out that the discipline of spontaneity, which he was asking h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/virgil-thomson-25552_asking_i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall_311641.jpg" --- # I got myself into a lovely little shall we say controversy… ![“I got myself into a lovely little shall we say controversy with André Breton, by pointing out that the discipline of spontaneity, which he was asking his surrealist neophytes to adopt, was new for language but something that composers had been practicing for centuries.” quote by Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/virgil-thomson-25552_asking_i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall_311641.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/virgil-thomson-25552_asking_i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall_311641.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/virgil-thomson-25552_asking_i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall_311641.jpg) > “I got myself into a lovely little shall we say controversy with André Breton, by pointing out that the discipline of spontaneity, which he was asking his surrealist neophytes to adopt, was new for language but something that composers had been practicing for centuries.” [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spontaneity in art, though new for language, has long existed in music, highlighting interdisciplinary influences. **In simple terms:** Spontaneity is historic in music, new to language. Key Takeaway Recognize cross‑disciplinary roots of creativity. Themes artistic innovation interdisciplinary history creativity music Mood analytical thoughtful Type observation philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - musical composition - art education Key Concepts surrealism spontaneity disciplinary exchange Questions to Reflect On - How can artists integrate ideas from other fields? - What challenges arise when introducing spontaneity to structured forms? A Different Perspective New artistic methods may face resistance from traditionalists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Spontaneity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneity/) [Surrealist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrealist/) ## Related quotes > [I never knew I was a surrealist till Andre Breton came to Mexico and told me I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-never-knew-i-was-a-surrealist-till-andre-breton-came-to-mexico-and/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [When I was an adolescent, I abandoned my country at 23 years to come to Paris to know Andre Breton, the 'Pope of Surrealism.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/when-i-was-an-adolescent-i-abandoned-my-country-at-23-years-to-come/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [“The art of Frida Kahlo is a ribbon around a bomb' (Andre Breton qtd. p. 55)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-burrus/the-art-of-frida-kahlo-is-a-ribbon-around-a-bomb-andre-breton-qtd-p-55/) Christina Burrus > [“A Letter to Andre Breton, Originally Composed on a Leaf of Lettuce With an Ink-dipped Carrot On my bed, my green comforter draped over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-letter-to-andre-breton-originally-composed-on-a-leaf-of-lettuce/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“André Breton was a lover of love in a world who believes in prostitution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/andr-breton-was-a-lover-of-love-in-a-world-who-believes-in/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [“I wrote this piece because my mailbox was full of bills, junk mail, and lettuce, but not a single letter from Andre Breton. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wrote-this-piece-because-my-mailbox-was-full-of-bills-junk-mail-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“All my life my heart has yearned for a thing I cannot name.” andre breton”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-breton/all-my-life-my-heart-has-yearned-for-a-thing-i-cannot-name-andre/) [andre breton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-breton/) > [“André Breton (who fled Nazi dominated Europe)told poets of this Caribbean country: 'Surrealism is allied with peoples of colour, first because it has sided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-craven/andr-breton-who-fled-nazi-dominated-europe-told-poets-of-this/) David Craven > [If you take 2001: A Space Odyssey as an example of somebody who creates a new language in film by what he was able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/if-you-take-2001-a-space-odyssey-as-an-example-of-somebody-who/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [Oftentimes an originator of new language forms is called 'pretentious' by jealous talents. But it ain’t whatcha write, it’s the way atcha write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/oftentimes-an-originator-of-new-language-forms-is-called-pretentious/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Want to know where the action in a culture is? Watch where new language is turning up and where the lawyers collect, usually in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-brand/want-to-know-where-the-action-in-a-culture-is-watch-where-new/) [Stewart Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-brand/) > [Being in a new country, learning a new language - it isn't something that scares me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-martin/being-in-a-new-country-learning-a-new-language-it-isn-t-something/) [Stacy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-martin/) > [I get excited when I sing in a new language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-ali/i-get-excited-when-i-sing-in-a-new-language/) [Javed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-ali/) > [“Driving home, I heard the explosion and thought it was a new story born. But, Adrian, it’s the same old story, whispered past the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/driving-home-i-heard-the-explosion-and-thought-it-was-a-new-story/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [It's one thing to just play a tune, or play a program of music, but it's another thing to practically create a new language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-corea/it-s-one-thing-to-just-play-a-tune-or-play-a-program-of-music-but-it/) [Chick Corea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-corea/) ## More by Virgil Thomson > [I don't have to worry No matter what they do to it, it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-don-t-have-to-worry-no-matter-what-they-do-to-it-it-works/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [Every composer's music reflects in its subject-matter and in its style the source of the money the composer is living on while writing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/every-composer-s-music-reflects-in-its-subject-matter-and-in-its/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [I let her alone and when she got that finished she left me alone. We trusted each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-let-her-alone-and-when-she-got-that-finished-she-left-me-alone-we/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [I never learned to verbalize an abstract musical concept. No thank you. The whole point of being a serious musician is to avoid verbalization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-never-learned-to-verbalize-an-abstract-musical-concept-no-thank-you/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/in-paris-you-learn-wit-in-london-you-learn-to-crush-your-social/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [I listened to the pure crystalline notes of one of Mozart's concertos dropping at my feet like leaves from the trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-listened-to-the-pure-crystalline-notes-of-one-of-mozart-s-concertos/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [I don't care what other critics say, I only hope to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-don-t-care-what-other-critics-say-i-only-hope-to-be-played/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [I seem to write an opera about every 20 years; if you live long enough you can write four operas. I finished my third in 1970.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-seem-to-write-an-opera-about-every-20-years-if-you-live-long-enough/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [Musicians own music because music owns them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/musicians-own-music-because-music-owns-them/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [Let your mind alone, and see what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/let-your-mind-alone-and-see-what-happens/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [Verbal communication about music is impossible except among musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/verbal-communication-about-music-is-impossible-except-among-musicians/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/whatever-deceptions-life-may-have-in-store-for-you-music-itself-is/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [The description and explanation is the best part of music reviewing. There is such a thing, and you know it too, as a gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/the-description-and-explanation-is-the-best-part-of-music-reviewing/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [I look at you and I write down what I hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-look-at-you-and-i-write-down-what-i-hear/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) > [I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, I might as well starve where the food is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-said-to-my-friends-that-if-i-was-going-to-starve-i-might-as-well/) [Virgil Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) [Explore all 23 Virgil Thomson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got myself into a lovely little shall we say controversy with André Breton, by pointing out that the discipline of spontaneity, which he was asking his surrealist neophytes to adopt, was new for language but something that composers had been practicing for centuries.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Virgil Thomson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall-we-say-controversy-with-andr/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall-we-say-controversy-with-andr/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/virgil-thomson-25552_asking_i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall_311641.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/virgil-thomson-25552_asking_i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall_311641.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/virgil-thomson-25552_asking_i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall_311641.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I got myself into a lovely little shall we say controversy with André Breton, by pointing out that the…” — Virgil Thomson", "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": "Virgil Thomson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-thomson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I got myself into a lovely...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall-we-say-controversy-with-andr/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-thomson/i-got-myself-into-a-lovely-little-shall-we-say-controversy-with-andr/#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 } } ] } ```