We're all just animals. That's all we are, and everything else is just an elaborate justification of our instincts. That's where music comes from. And romantic poetry. And bad novels.
Elvis CostelloRead
It's the damage that we do and never know. It's the words that we don't say that scare me so.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The unspoken words and unacknowledged hurt can have a significant impact on our lives.
This quote by Elvis Costello reflects on the unseen consequences of our actions and the weight of unexpressed thoughts. It emphasizes that the harm we inflict, often unknowingly, and the fears associated with unspoken feelings can deeply affect our relationships and emotional well-being.
Themes
UnspokenRelationshipsWordsDamageFear
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about mental health, one could emphasize the importance of expressing feelings to avoid hidden damages.
More from Elvis Costello
All quotes →There are five things to write songs about: I'm leaving you. You're leaving me. I want you. You don't want me. I believe in something. Five subjects, and 12 notes. For all that, we musicians do pretty well.
Elvis CostelloRead
And I don't feel any form of music is beyond me in the sense of that I don't understand it or I don't have some love for some part of it.
Elvis CostelloRead
Happiness isn't a fortune in a cookie. It's deeper, wider, funnier, and more transporting than that.
Elvis CostelloRead
I've had a lot of different experiences in music over the years.And not everything you do can satisfy everybody's idealised version of you.
Elvis CostelloRead
I believe that music is connected by human passions and curiosities rather than by marketing strategies.
Elvis CostelloRead
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