"All the intelligence and talent in the world can't make a singer. The voice is a wild thing. It can't be bred in captivity. It is a sport, like the silver fox. It happens"

This quote by Willa Cather stresses the idea that natural talent and intelligence alone can not make a great vocalist. The voice is often referred to as a "wild thing" because it can not be managed or controlled in the very same method a person can control their own intelligence or abilities. Essentially, the voice is an unpredictable and unmanageable force that can not be tamed or reproduced in captivity.

Cather likewise compares the voice to a "sport", recommending that it is something that takes place naturally and can not be produced or produced. Similar to a silver fox, which is a rare and evasive animal that can not be quickly domesticated, a truly terrific vocalist should have a natural skill and an inherent capability to perform. Ultimately, this quote highlights the significance of raw talent and the truth that it can not be produced or made through training alone.