Food, one assumes, provides nourishment; but Americans eat it fully aware that small amounts of poison have been added to improve its appearance and delay its putrefaction.
John CageRead
Let no one imagine that in owning a recording he has the music. The very practice of music is a celebration that we own nothing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Owning a recording does not equate to possessing the essence of music; true music exists in the act of creation and experience.
John Cage emphasizes that the ownership of a recording does not translate to true ownership of the music itself. Music is an experience that is celebrated in its performance and practice, reminding us that art is an ephemeral expression that cannot be contained or owned in a material sense, rather it is the creative act that truly embodies its essence.
Themes
MusicOwnershipCreationExperienceArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the value of live performances versus recorded music, this quote can emphasize the importance of the musical experience.
More from John Cage
All quotes →Which is more musical: a truck passing by a factory or a truck passing by a music school?
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