Long live teachers of children, because they can show children how they can save the world.
Pete SeegerRead
Songs are funny things. They can slip across borders. Proliferate in prisons. Penetrate hard shells. I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Songs have the power to transcend boundaries and influence significant changes in society.
In this quote, Pete Seeger expresses the belief that music is a universal language that can easily cross cultural and physical barriers. He suggests that songs have the ability to penetrate even the toughest circumstances, like prisons or emotional defenses, and when paired with the right context, they can have a profound impact on history and societal change.
Themes
SongsMusicChangeInfluenceHistory
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about creativity, one could use this quote to illustrate the importance of music in social movements.
More from Pete Seeger
All quotes →According to my definition of God, I'm not an atheist. Because I think God is everything. Whenever I open my eyes, I'm looking at God. Whenever I'm listening to something, I'm listening to God.
Pete SeegerRead
Well, normally I’m against big things. I think the world is going to be saved by millions of small things. Too many things can go wrong when they get big.” — Pete Seeger (on how he felt about attending his big 90th birthday bash last year)
Pete SeegerRead
I’ve never sung anywhere without giving the people listening to me a chance to join in - as a kid, as a lefty, as a man touring the U.S.A. and the world, as an oldster. I guess it’s kind of a religion with me. Participation. That’s what’s going to save the human race.
Pete SeegerRead
I write a song because I want to. I think the moment you start writing it to make money, you're starting to kill yourself artistically.
Pete SeegerRead
Do-so is more important than say-so.
Pete SeegerRead
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