Our intention is to affirm this life, not to bring order out of chaos, nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply to wake up to the very life we're living, which is so excellent once one gets one's mind and desires out of its way and lets it act of it's own accord.

John Cage

Categorized in : Order Desire Mind

There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time. There is always something to see, something to hear. In fact, try as we may to make a silence, we cannot.

music time life

I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm fr... by John Cage

I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.

change motivational inspirational

Everything you do is music, and everywhere is the best seat. by John Cage

Everything you do is music, and everywhere is the best seat.

seats

If my work is accepted, I must move on to the point where it is n... by John Cage

If my work is accepted, I must move on to the point where it is not.

accepted ifs moving

The world is no longer a romantic place; some of its people still are however, and therein lies the promise. Don't let the world win.

dream winning lying

The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason.

beautiful beauty reality

When you start working, everybody is in your studio- the past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideas- all are there. But as you continue painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you are lucky, even you leave.

past ideas art

Look at everything. Don't close your eyes to the world around you. Look and become curious and interested in what there is to see.

grateful eye looks

Get yourself out of whatever cage you find yourself in. by John Cage

Get yourself out of whatever cage you find yourself in.

finding-yourself cages

The act of listening is in fact an act of composing. by John Cage

The act of listening is in fact an act of composing.

composing listening facts

If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.

eight music inspirational

The material of music is sound and silence. Integrating these is... by John Cage

The material of music is sound and silence. Integrating these is composing.

integrating silence sound

If you develop an ear for sounds that are musical it is like developing an ego. You begin to refuse sounds that are not musical and that way cut yourself off from a good deal of experience.

ego cutting music

Art is whatever you can get away with. by John Cage

Art is whatever you can get away with.

get-away art-is art

My favorite piece [piece of music] is the one we hear all the tim... by John Cage

My favorite piece [piece of music] is the one we hear all the time if we are quiet.

my-favorite pieces quiet

I have nothing to say, and I am saying it. by John Cage

I have nothing to say, and I am saying it.

My favourite music is the music I haven't yet heard. I don't hear the music I write: I write in order to hear the music I haven't yet heard.

favourite writing order

It is better to make a piece of music than to perform one, better to perform one than to listen to one, better to listen to one than to misuse it as a means of distraction, entertainment, or acquisition of 'culture.'

acquisition listening mean

Ideas are one thing and what happens is another. by John Cage

Ideas are one thing and what happens is another.

one-thing happens ideas

Good music can act as a guide to good living. by John Cage

Good music can act as a guide to good living.

good-living guides