John Cage
FameRank: 8

"John Milton Cage Jr." was an American composer, Music theory/music theorist, writer, and artist. A pioneer of Indeterminacy (music)/indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and Extended technique/non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the most influential American composers of the 20th century. He was also instrumental in the development of modern dance, mostly through his association with choreographer Merce Cunningham, who was also Cage's romantic partner for most of their lives.

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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.

279

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.

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Music is a means of Rapid Transportation.

250

The grand thing about the human mind is that it can turn its own tables and see meaninglessness as ultimate meaning.

225

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

221

If someone says 'can't,' that shows you what to do.

211

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.

204

If you think something is boring, try doing it for two minutes. If you still think it's boring, try it for four. If you still think it's boring, try it for eight, then sixteen, then thirty-two, and so on and so forth. Soon enough you'll find that it's really not boring at all.

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There is poetry as soon as we realize that we possess nothing.

186

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.

178

We carry our homes within us which enables us to fly.

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I have nothing to say, and I am saying it, and that is poetry.

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