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
I 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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Creativity involves both recognition and the ability to shape ideas, with practice leading to unexpected opportunities.
In this quote, Paul Simon reflects on the creative process, emphasizing the importance of recognizing good ideas and the potential for creativity to flourish through practice. He suggests that as artists engage with their craft, they become more adept at spotting inspiration, thus making them 'luckier' in finding unique expressions and rhymes, which ultimately enhances their artistic output.
Themes
CreativityInspirationPracticeLuckArt
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speech about pursuing artistic endeavors.
More from Paul Simon
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Who's gonna love you when your looks are gone?
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I don't believe what the papers are saying They're just out to capture my dime, Exaggerating this, exaggerating that.
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Improvisation is too good to leave to chance.
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Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you, following you right on up until you die.
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