To me, a song is not finished. To me, there's no such thing as a finished anything. All of Beethoven's nine symphonies, to me, are one. I think of it as having no beginning and no end.
Wayne ShorterRead
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 potential that we all have, and we can emerge, rise up to this potential, when necessary. We have to be fearless, courageous, and draw upon wisdom that we think we don't have.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Music enables us to explore unknown possibilities and can reveal our hidden potential.
In this quote, Wayne Shorter emphasizes the transformative power of music as a medium that connects us to deeper aspects of our existence. He suggests that engaging with music requires courage to explore the unfamiliar, and that within each of us is a wellspring of potential waiting to be tapped into. By approaching these challenges with fearlessness and wisdom, we can rise to meet our true capabilities.
Themes
MusicCouragePotentialFearlessnessWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the power of creativity, one might quote this to inspire musicians.
More from Wayne Shorter
All quotes →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, 'I dare you.'
Wayne ShorterRead
When they say 'jazz,' I'm thinking of a word called 'the creative process.' It intersects every vein and tributary, avenue, path, that everyone's living. It crosses through there, but it's been contained.
Wayne ShorterRead
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 admirable thing - from Louis Armstrong to Charlie Parker to Miles to Ornette and some people who are not even known today - some kids coming up - people who are out to change the world.
Wayne ShorterRead
The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this kind of risk, and courage is what we all need to create a better world.
Wayne ShorterRead
Movies would be like a broad painted canvas... or a mystical process which cannot really be explained, like, 'What is electricity?' Along with the images that go on the screen, there's a corridor of dialogue that can happen through motion pictures, whether you're aware of it or not.
Wayne ShorterRead
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