John Cage
John Cage (1912–1992) was an American composer and music theorist known for the silent composition 4'33 and for introducing chance operations into music. His work and writings promoted openness to new ideas over traditional conventions, reflected in the quoted statement.
Quotes by John Cage
Quotes: 3
When Tradition Terrifies More Than Innovation
Cage’s warning is not a call to worship novelty; it is a call to examine defaults. Karl Popper’s falsifiability standard (The Logic of Scientific Discovery, 1959) reminds us that claims should risk refutation. Practically, leaders can run safe‑to‑fail probes in complex settings (Snowden and Boone, Harvard Business Review, 2007), favor reversible two‑way door choices when possible (Jeff Bezos, 2015 letter), and conduct premortems to surface hidden failure modes (Gary Klein, 2007). In this way, we keep prudence without paralysis. We fear ossification, not exploration—and we learn by listening, just as Cage taught. [...]
Created on: 8/31/2025
Art Is Not Freedom from Discipline, but Disciplined Freedom - John Cage
This concept applies beyond art into fields like writing, science, and leadership, where discipline fosters innovation. Rules and structure help channel creativity into meaningful and impactful results. [...]
Created on: 2/12/2025
Begin Anywhere - John Cage
John Cage was an influential American composer and music theorist known for his innovative and experimental approach to music. His philosophy often involved breaking conventional boundaries and exploring chance operations, reflected in this succinct and liberating quote. [...]
Created on: 6/30/2024