I don't feel any pressure from fans. But I'm always in some kind of state of emotional turmoil. I would not describe myself as happy-go-lucky. That's not to say that I'm not happy.
Paul SimonRead
People often called us perfectionists, but we were not looking for perfection. We were looking for some kind of magic in the music.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the pursuit of artistic magic over the unattainable chase for perfection.
Paul Simon reflects on the creative process, suggesting that some artists may be labeled as perfectionists; however, their true goal is not to achieve flawlessness but to capture an enchanting and transcendent quality in their music. This highlights the importance of emotion and feeling in artistic expression over mere technical precision.
Themes
PerfectionMusicArtMagicCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the creative process in art classes, this quote can inspire students to embrace imperfection.
More from Paul Simon
All quotes βI sort of recognize it, as opposed to shaping it. Oh, that's a good idea, that's a good line. I wonder where I can use that. And when you get into a rhyme group like 'not,' you got a lot of rhymes, you got a lot of choices. The more you do it, the luckier you get.
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I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told, and I have squandered my resistance, for a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises. All lies in jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest...la-la-la-la-la-la-la-lala-la-la-la-la...
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Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
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Improvisation is too good to leave to chance.
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