"I never was very capable of expressing my feelings or emotions in words. I don't know whether this is the cause why I did it in music and also why I did it in painting. Or vice versa: That I had this way as an outlet. I could renounce expressing something in words"
- Arnold Schoenberg
About this Quote
In this quote, composer and painter Arnold Schoenberg reviews his battles with expressing his emotions through words. He acknowledges that he has never been skilled at verbalizing his sensations, and questions if this is why he turned to music and painting as a way of expression. He suggests that possibly his failure to articulate his emotions led him to find alternative outlets for his creativity. Schoenberg likewise indicates that he finds solace in being able to express himself through music and painting, as it enables him to communicate without the limitations of language. In general, this quote highlights the power of art as a form of psychological expression and the distinct methods which individuals may select to communicate their innermost thoughts and sensations.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away"
