Creative Standards Quotes

A true artist is expected to be all that is noble-minded, and this is not altogether a mistake; on the other hand, however, in what a mean way are critics allowed to pounce upon us.

I just don't think it honors God to create mediocre art.

Poets are never allowed to be mediocre by the gods, by men or by publishers.

Once I finish something, if I don't feel that it's absolutely fabulous, there's no way I would ever let it be recorded, I wouldn't even present it to a producer.

Just because I make something doesn't mean that it's going to be amazing, and most creative people don't like to admit when their music is just okay.

I'd rather not make films than make bad ones.

I prefer exiting from projects that don't meet certain conditions, which primarily have to do with the script. When I'm disturbed, I can't act. I'm no use as a non-actor, right?

Mediocrity is not allowed to poets, either by the gods or men.

I wasn't interested in writing music that wasn't beautiful for me to listen to.

I'm kind of a perfectionist about my songwriting. If I don't mean it, I don't think it's any good.

I mean, my wife is always like - I don't write lyrics. So I couldn't, like, really technically write a song for anyone. I could write a very nice instrumental. So she always sort of gives me a hard time because it's just such a ridiculously impossible standard to live up to, that your step-dad wrote that song for your mom.

If you're going to use standards as criteria for signing musicians, you can sign thousands. If you're going to use some sort of conceptual interpretation that's based on the tradition of those standards, but is trying to move away from it, you're down to about 10 people or so.

I've seen such great material, and now I'm more picky with the type of jobs that I take because it's gotta be there. There's an old theater saying: 'If it's not on the page, it's not on the stage'... You gotta have some type of standards as far as the jobs that you take and the roles that you take on.

The true genius shudders at incompleteness - and usually prefers silence to saying something which is not everything it should be.

For me, my continuous struggle with every project is, "Is it better than 'Pink?'"

I don't sing songs on albums that I don't like.

I think sometimes I write to impress my influences. Whether they're actually acquaintances of mine, people that I think will hear the record or not, I still write - not to imitate my influences - but to write something that would live up to their standards.

I don't want to compromise on my singing or drop down its level to start acting.

I think sequels should be earned and we won't do it unless the script is better than the first one.

I really care about what I put out, and probably more than the fans care. At times, I think I over-care. But I just know that the body of work has such a high standard that it's kind of like, in my own head, I need to at least match it if not get over that, so that's the challenge.

I can't leave the studio until everything is as it should be. And I can't put a record out unless I am completely happy with it. I never want to be at a signing and hear my album playing and think, 'Oh no, I could have done that top note better.'

Sometimes, when the material is really good, you put expectations on yourself to make it the best possible show. You're not just serving up the regular hash and doing your job and going home.

We who are in the arts are at the risk of being in a popularity contest rather than a profession. If that fact causes you despair . . . pick another profession. Your desire to communicate must be bigger than your relationship with the chaotic and unfair realities . . . We have to create our own standards of discipline.

I feel very, very, very intent on only releasing things that I believe are fully worthy.

Songwriting as an art is a bit archaic now. Just writing a song is not good enough.