The really important kind of freedom involves...being able truly to care about other people...
David FosterRead
Don't be too precious about your craft... there's only 26 letters and 12 notes, and Shakespeare and Beethoven said it all better than any of us ever will
Interpretation
What this quote means
One should not overly value their own creations as greatness has already been achieved by previous masters.
David Foster emphasizes that while creativity is important, one should remember that the building blocks of art—like letters and musical notes—are finite. Thus, it's vital to not hold one's craft too dearly, recognizing that the great works of artists like Shakespeare and Beethoven have set a high standard that might never be surpassed.
Themes
CreativityHumilityArtInspirationCraft
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech to aspiring writers, you might say, 'Remember, don't be too precious about your craft...'
More from David Foster
All quotes →I am uncompromising to the point of huge dissension in the studio. And it's served me very well. My theory and my philosophy is, 'Compromise breeds mediocrity.' Obviously, you have to pick your battles, and the more success an artist has, the more they want to be involved in their own career, which is not necessarily a good thing.
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CPR to those elements of what’s human and magical that still live and glow despite the times’ darkness.
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We all suffer alone in the real world; true empathy's impossible.
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Gentlemen, welcome to the world of reality – there is no audience. No one to applaud, to admire. No one to see you. Do you understand? Here is the truth – actual heroism receives no ovation, entertains no one. No one queues up to see it. No one is interested.
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This is what the real, no bullshit value of your liberal arts education is supposed to be about: how to keep from going through your comfortable, prosperous, respectable adult life dead, unconscious, a slave to your head and to your natural default setting of being uniquely, completely, imperially alone day in and day out.
David FosterRead
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