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The function of Art is to imitate Nature in her manner of operation. Our understanding of her manner of operation&Rdquo changes according to advances in the sciences.

John Cage

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John Cage
Age: 79 †
Born: 1912
Born: September 5
Died: 1992
Died: August 2
Composer
Illustrator
Music Theorist
Musician
Musicologist
Painter
Philosopher
Poet
University Teacher
Writer
LA
California
John Milton Cage Jr.
John Milton Cage
Jr.
John Milton
Jr. Cage
J. C.
Art
Operation
Nature
Operations
Manner
According
Changes
Function
Imitate
Understanding
Advances
Science
Sciences

More quotes by John Cage

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People paying attention to vibratory activity, not in reaction to a fixed ideal performance, but each time attentively to how it happens to be this time, not necessarily two times the same. A music that transports the listener to the moment where he is.
John Cage
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All God's religions ... have not been able to put mankind back together again.
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There was a German philosopher who is very well known, his name was Immanuel Kant, and he said there are two things that don’t have to mean anything, one is music and the other is laughter. Don’t have to mean anything that is, in order to give us deep pleasure.
John Cage
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Art's purpose is to sober and quiet the mind so that it is in accord with what happens.
John Cage
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Value judgments are destructive to our proper business, which is curiosity and awareness.
John Cage
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Out of the work comes the work.
John Cage
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All great art is a form of complaint
John Cage
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Art is sort of an experimental station in which one tries out living.
John Cage
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Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It's lighter than you think.
John Cage
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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
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Beware of losing what isn't in your head.
John Cage
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If someone says can't, that shows you what to do.
John Cage
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A meal without mushrooms is like a day without rain.
John Cage
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When we separate music from life we get is art.
John Cage
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The attitude I take is that everyday life is more interesting than forms of celebration, when we become aware of it. That when is when our intentions go down to zero. Then suddenly you notice that the world is magical.
John Cage
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As far as consistency of thought goes, I prefer inconsistency.
John Cage
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One shouldn't go to the woods looking for something, but rather to see what is there.
John Cage
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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.
John Cage
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An error is simply a failure to adjust immediately from a preconception to an actuality.
John Cage
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Composing for the prepared piano is not a criticism of the instrument. I'm only being practical.
John Cage