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The effects of good music are not just because it's new; on the contrary music strikes us more the more familiar we are with it.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Familiarity with music enhances its emotional impact, making it more meaningful to us.

This quote by Goethe emphasizes that the emotional and cognitive effects of music become more profound as we become more acquainted with it. It suggests that our previous experiences with music shape our ability to appreciate and resonate with it on a deeper level, highlighting the connection between familiarity and emotional engagement in art.

Themes

MusicFamiliarityEmotional ImpactArtExperience

In practice

Example use cases

During a presentation about the power of music in therapy, I referenced Goethe’s quote to illustrate the importance of prior experience with music.

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Know thyself? If I knew myself I would run away.
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