--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm trying to do music which inspires the…" description: "\"I'm trying to do music which inspires the desire to transcend politics, which has a limited and selfish and egoist and unknowledgable end about what an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/wayne-shorter-15146_desire_i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-th_1090320.jpg" --- # I'm trying to do music which inspires the desire to… ![“I'm trying to do music which inspires the desire to transcend politics, which has a limited and selfish and egoist and unknowledgable end about what anyone knows about existence.” quote by Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/wayne-shorter-15146_desire_i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-th_1090320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/wayne-shorter-15146_desire_i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-th_1090320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/wayne-shorter-15146_desire_i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-th_1090320.jpg) > “I'm trying to do music which inspires the desire to transcend politics, which has a limited and selfish and egoist and unknowledgable end about what anyone knows about existence.” [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music should aim beyond personal politics to explore universal existential questions, avoiding ego‑driven narratives. **In simple terms:** Create music that looks beyond self‑interest. Key Takeaway Seek higher purpose in art. Themes art existence politics transcendence Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - composing - performance - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy ego universality Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal expression with broader relevance? - What themes invite listeners to reflect on existence? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating listeners who prefer familiar political themes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Inspires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-inspires/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [No one wants to die, and no one wants to die poor. These are the two fundamental truths that transcend culture, they transcend politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/no-one-wants-to-die-and-no-one-wants-to-die-poor-these-are-the-two/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Part of what you try and do when you're writing is to just transcend politics and the moment in a way and talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-joy/part-of-what-you-try-and-do-when-you-re-writing-is-to-just-transcend/) [Lisa Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-joy/) > [I'm sure I could fall in love with a Democrat as easily as a Republican. Some things transcend politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gannon/i-m-sure-i-could-fall-in-love-with-a-democrat-as-easily-as-a/) [Jeff Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-gannon/) > [The environment is so fundamental to our continued existence that it must transcend politics and become a central value of all members of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-environment-is-so-fundamental-to-our-continued-existence-that-it/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [I put in the sounds of instruments such as the guitar and piano, which everybody hears often, and tried to go with melodies that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/i-put-in-the-sounds-of-instruments-such-as-the-guitar-and-piano-which/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [My biggest obstacle is trying to keep the music pure to what I want to release. I don't want any corporate suit telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/my-biggest-obstacle-is-trying-to-keep-the-music-pure-to-what-i-want/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [Uhm, I'm the one wanting the lessons! I don't want to say too much about it because I'd rather have you see the movie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-keitel/uhm-i-m-the-one-wanting-the-lessons-i-don-t-want-to-say-too-much/) [Harvey Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-keitel/) > [There's a lot of frustration in trying to get music out when you're the only one who hears it, especially if you have something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/there-s-a-lot-of-frustration-in-trying-to-get-music-out-when-you-re/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [I had been trying to do something with music for all of my life. Ive always been a fan of music; I always loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-meech/i-had-been-trying-to-do-something-with-music-for-all-of-my-life-ive/) [Big Meech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-meech/) > [I think all of us set out to try and reach as many people. That's the whole point of being in a band: trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-taylor/i-think-all-of-us-set-out-to-try-and-reach-as-many-people-that-s-the/) [Daniel Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-taylor/) > [Trying to get my music performed live by bar bands was a self defeating experience. It really just distracted me from what I should've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/trying-to-get-my-music-performed-live-by-bar-bands-was-a-self/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm trying to get music ideas that come and keep them alive. It's like carrying water in your hands. I want to keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-trying-to-get-music-ideas-that-come-and-keep-them-alive-it-s-like/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Touring is everything. Without touring, you're just another artist on the internet trying to get your music out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/classified/touring-is-everything-without-touring-you-re-just-another-artist-on/) [Classified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/classified/) > [I've been trying to do this music stuff and work it out for so long... I was like, 'Let's do it for ourselves.' All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skepta/i-ve-been-trying-to-do-this-music-stuff-and-work-it-out-for-so-long-i/) [Skepta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skepta/) > [Trying to put music out there in the world is a pretty exciting, yet terrifying, thing and I've just been through the ringer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-bruno/trying-to-put-music-out-there-in-the-world-is-a-pretty-exciting-yet/) [Aaron Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-bruno/) ## More by Wayne Shorter > [The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/the-arts-can-open-the-door-to-the-imagination-pushing-the-envelope-of/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [It’s making a statement about what life is, really. And I’m going to end the line with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/it-s-making-a-statement-about-what-life-is-really-and-i-m-going-to/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [There's a certain road in life most people walk on, because it's familiar, and they can jostle to get in front place. I prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/there-s-a-certain-road-in-life-most-people-walk-on-because-it-s/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [I'm learning more about life when I'm playing too, and writing music. I'm learning more about life, the connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/i-m-learning-more-about-life-when-i-m-playing-too-and-writing-music-i/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [Music is just sound - what's more important to me is behavior. I'm watching these play-offs - basketball - it's interesting to watch behavior,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/music-is-just-sound-what-s-more-important-to-me-is-behavior-i-m/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [I always say that music is a small drop in the ocean of life. I was told a long time ago that your horn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/i-always-say-that-music-is-a-small-drop-in-the-ocean-of-life-i-was/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [It's up to the person who's being creative to find ways to emerge and shake up the world of wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/it-s-up-to-the-person-who-s-being-creative-to-find-ways-to-emerge-and/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [There's a steady forward march of a creative process that some of us stay with and don't give up - that should be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/there-s-a-steady-forward-march-of-a-creative-process-that-some-of-us/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [If all you have is music, then you don't have music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/if-all-you-have-is-music-then-you-don-t-have-music/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [Music is interior decoration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/music-is-interior-decoration/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [Jazz shouldn't have any mandates. Jazz is not supposed to be something that's required to sound like jazz. For me, the word 'jazz' means,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/jazz-shouldn-t-have-any-mandates-jazz-is-not-supposed-to-be-something/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [To me, the definition of faith is to fear nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/to-me-the-definition-of-faith-is-to-fear-nothing/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [When John Coltrane passed, we were in the church for the memorial. Albert Ayler came walking in playing, real out there. He was actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/when-john-coltrane-passed-we-were-in-the-church-for-the-memorial/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [I think that music opens portals and doorways into unknown sectors that it takes courage to leap into. I always think that there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/i-think-that-music-opens-portals-and-doorways-into-unknown-sectors/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [Jazz is a fighter. The word 'jazz' means to me, 'I dare you. Let's jump into the unknown!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/jazz-is-a-fighter-the-word-jazz-means-to-me-i-dare-you-let-s-jump/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) [Explore all 44 Wayne Shorter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm trying to do music which inspires the desire to transcend politics, which has a limited and selfish and egoist and unknowledgable end about what anyone knows about existence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wayne Shorter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-the-desire-to-transcend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-the-desire-to-transcend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/wayne-shorter-15146_desire_i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-th_1090320.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/wayne-shorter-15146_desire_i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-th_1090320.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/wayne-shorter-15146_desire_i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-th_1090320.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm trying to do music which inspires the desire to transcend politics, which has a limited and selfish and…” — Wayne Shorter", "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": "Wayne Shorter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm trying to do music which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-the-desire-to-transcend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/i-m-trying-to-do-music-which-inspires-the-desire-to-transcend/#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 } } ] } ```