Music is the shorthand of emotion.

My mother had taught shorthand and typing to support us since my father died, and secretly she hated it and hated him for dying and leaving no money because he didn't trust life insurance salesmen.

I find I like to work with a lot of the same actors because I find that there's sort of shorthand there and there is this unspoken trust both ways. They trust me and I trust them. And I know what I'm going to get from them to an extent. It's just fun kind of creating this little family.

While eschewing emotion - and its companion vulnerability - Obama should be careful not to sacrifice empathy the 'I feel your pain' connection that sustained Clinton. This connection is the shorthand people use to measure their leaders' intentions. If people believe you're on their side they will trust your decisions.

Music is the shorthand of emotion.