Long live teachers of children, because they can show children how they can save the world.
Pete SeegerRead
When you play the 12-string guitar, you spend half your life tuning the instrument and the other half playing it out of tune.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is a balance of preparation and execution, often filled with imperfections.
In this quote, Pete Seeger humorously reflects on the complexities of life and creativity, suggesting that much of our time is spent honing our skills and dealing with the imperfections that arise during the process. Just like tuning a 12-string guitar can consume a significant amount of time, life requires patience and acceptance of flaws as we strive to create and express ourselves.
Themes
LifeMusicImperfectionCreativityTuning
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at a music festival, one could say, 'As Pete Seeger wisely noted, we spend half our lives tuning our instruments, reminding us to embrace the imperfections in our own journeys.'
More from Pete Seeger
All quotes →According to my definition of God, I'm not an atheist. Because I think God is everything. Whenever I open my eyes, I'm looking at God. Whenever I'm listening to something, I'm listening to God.
Pete SeegerRead
Songs are funny things. They can slip across borders. Proliferate in prisons. Penetrate hard shells. I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.
Pete SeegerRead
Well, normally I’m against big things. I think the world is going to be saved by millions of small things. Too many things can go wrong when they get big.” — Pete Seeger (on how he felt about attending his big 90th birthday bash last year)
Pete SeegerRead
I’ve never sung anywhere without giving the people listening to me a chance to join in - as a kid, as a lefty, as a man touring the U.S.A. and the world, as an oldster. I guess it’s kind of a religion with me. Participation. That’s what’s going to save the human race.
Pete SeegerRead
I write a song because I want to. I think the moment you start writing it to make money, you're starting to kill yourself artistically.
Pete SeegerRead
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