--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art is a high calling - fears are…" description: "\"Art is a high calling - fears are coincidental. Coincidental, sneaky and disruptive, we might add, disguising themselves variously as laziness, resista..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/david-bayles-13995_achievement_art-is-a-high-calling-fears-are-coincide_276039.jpg" --- # Art is a high calling - fears are coincidental… ![“Art is a high calling - fears are coincidental. Coincidental, sneaky and disruptive, we might add, disguising themselves variously as laziness, resistance to deadlines, irritation with materials or surroundings, distraction over the achievements of others - indeed as anything that keeps you from…” quote by David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/david-bayles-13995_achievement_art-is-a-high-calling-fears-are-coincide_276039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/david-bayles-13995_achievement_art-is-a-high-calling-fears-are-coincide_276039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/david-bayles-13995_achievement_art-is-a-high-calling-fears-are-coincide_276039.jpg) > “Art is a high calling - fears are coincidental. Coincidental, sneaky and disruptive, we might add, disguising themselves variously as laziness, resistance to deadlines, irritation with materials or surroundings, distraction over the achievements of others - indeed as anything that keeps you from giving your work your best shot. What separates artists from ex-artists is that those who challenge their fears, continue; those who don't, quit.” [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear often masquerades as laziness, distraction, or irritation, preventing artists from giving their best effort; confronting those fears fuels persistence. **In simple terms:** Fear hides as excuses, stopping effort; confronting it keeps you creating. Key Takeaway Identify and face your hidden fears. Themes creativity resilience discipline Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - artist block - deadline pressure - creative burnout - self‑doubt - environmental distraction Key Concepts Psychology of fear artistic process Questions to Reflect On - What excuses are you using to avoid work? - How can you turn distraction into focus? A Different Perspective Fear can be overwhelming and may require external support to overcome. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Best shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-shot/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Exes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exes/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Irritation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritation/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Surroundings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surroundings/) ## Related quotes > [“Unknowns in life are adventures, avoid calling them fears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haritha-velpureddy/unknowns-in-life-are-adventures-avoid-calling-them-fears/) [Haritha Velpureddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haritha-velpureddy/) > [I think what really separates artists from the rest of the world is that artists feel like they have permission to keep exploring and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-hegarty/i-think-what-really-separates-artists-from-the-rest-of-the-world-is/) [Antony Hegarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-hegarty/) > [“Challenge someone who fears you at some level, and you'll get some pushback. 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Give it your best shot!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklaus-mikaelson/whatever-it-is-you-are-thinking-of-trying-go-for-it-give-it-your-best/) Niklaus Mikaelson > [I hit Damian Fuller with a left hook that left him laid out for 30-45 minutes. They brought oxygen to him, they couldn't wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-corrales/i-hit-damian-fuller-with-a-left-hook-that-left-him-laid-out-for-30-45/) [Diego Corrales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-corrales/) ## More by David Bayles > [The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/the-seed-of-your-next-artwork-lies-embedded-in-the-imperfections-of/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece. 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That comparison (however sneaky) points…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/but-is-the-mona-lisa-really-art-well-then-what-about-an-undetectably/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [The hardest part of art-making is living your life in such a way that your work gets done-over and over-and that means, among other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/the-hardest-part-of-art-making-is-living-your-life-in-such-a-way-that/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [“In making art you need to give yourself room to respond authentically, both to your subject matter and to your materials. Art happens between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/in-making-art-you-need-to-give-yourself-room-to-respond-authentically/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [“Uncertainty is the essential, inevitable and all-pervasive companion to your desire to make art. 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The function of the overwhelming majority of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/there-s-generally-no-good-reason-why-others-should-care-about-most-of/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) [Explore all 48 David Bayles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. 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