--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A great editor is the most valuable thing…" description: "\"A great editor is the most valuable thing you can have as an artist because, as you said, sometimes you get too close to something. I think, apart from..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/elton-john-849_art_a-great-editor-is-the-most-valuable-thin_1465146.png" --- # A great editor is the most valuable thing you can have as… ![“A great editor is the most valuable thing you can have as an artist because, as you said, sometimes you get too close to something. I think, apart from your talent, that's why you have the career you have - because you have great people behind you.” quote by Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/elton-john-849_art_a-great-editor-is-the-most-valuable-thin_1465146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/elton-john-849_art_a-great-editor-is-the-most-valuable-thin_1465146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/elton-john-849_art_a-great-editor-is-the-most-valuable-thin_1465146.png) > “A great editor is the most valuable thing you can have as an artist because, as you said, sometimes you get too close to something. I think, apart from your talent, that's why you have the career you have - because you have great people behind you.” [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An editor provides essential distance, preventing artists from becoming too attached to their work. **In simple terms:** Editors help artists stay objective and improve. Key Takeaway Value collaborative feedback to refine your craft. Themes creativity collaboration objectivity Mood thoughtful practical Type advice professional When to use this quote - publishing - music production - visual arts Key Concepts artistic process feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance external input with personal vision? - When is it best to trust your own instincts? A Different Perspective Overreliance on editors may stifle personal voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Great people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Every first-rate editor I have ever heard of reads, edits and rewrites every word that goes into his publication… Good editors are not 'permissive';…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/every-first-rate-editor-i-have-ever-heard-of-reads-edits-and-rewrites/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [ Sometimes, I repeat myself, and that was a second elimination \[of Barack Obama\]. I worked with a team, including a great editor who, as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/sometimes-i-repeat-myself-and-that-was-a-second-elimination-of-barack/) [Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/) > [I had a great editor, Rebecca Corbett, from the time I was a city reporter right through to the years I worked on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/i-had-a-great-editor-rebecca-corbett-from-the-time-i-was-a-city/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I have a great editor and I enjoy, in a masochistic way, being ruthless about my own performance. How do I know, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/i-have-a-great-editor-and-i-enjoy-in-a-masochistic-way-being-ruthless/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [I've got a great family, great career, great friends, and a lot of passions, which make my life interesting and fulfilling every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-carlisle/i-ve-got-a-great-family-great-career-great-friends-and-a-lot-of/) [Belinda Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-carlisle/) > [When I had my daughter, I'd been chugging along in my career and had great mentors and success, but it was the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/when-i-had-my-daughter-i-d-been-chugging-along-in-my-career-and-had/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [There have been ups and downs like there are in every actor's career. There have been some great opportunities and then there have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-kapoor/there-have-been-ups-and-downs-like-there-are-in-every-actor-s-career/) [Kunal Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-kapoor/) > [Most women are not programmed to prefer a great career to a great man and a family. They feel they were sold a bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/most-women-are-not-programmed-to-prefer-a-great-career-to-a-great-man/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Coventry was a big part of my career, and I had a great time there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/coventry-was-a-big-part-of-my-career-and-i-had-a-great-time-there/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) > [The best way to advance in a career is to get great results while working with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-best-way-to-advance-in-a-career-is-to-get-great-results-while/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Cliché: "The MBA changed my life." What it really means: "A fantastic career, a great social life and a healthy bank balance...three of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameer-kamat/clich-the-mba-changed-my-life-what-it-really-means-a-fantastic-career/) Sameer Kamat > [The last 26 years of my career have all been great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/the-last-26-years-of-my-career-have-all-been-great/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [Look at Cillian Murphy: 'Batman,' 'Tron'... those are some heavy-hitting franchises. But he works his way around it. He manages to have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/look-at-cillian-murphy-batman-tron-those-are-some-heavy-hitting/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [I think hard work is definitely a huge thing, but there is something, if you want to call it luck or whatever - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyatt-cenac/i-think-hard-work-is-definitely-a-huge-thing-but-there-is-something/) [Wyatt Cenac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyatt-cenac/) > [Directing is not a job. It's more like a career. Which is great!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bay/directing-is-not-a-job-it-s-more-like-a-career-which-is-great/) [Michael Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bay/) ## More by Elton John > [For me music is so passionate. I have to give it my all every time I go onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/for-me-music-is-so-passionate-i-have-to-give-it-my-all-every-time-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [No tears to damn you when jealousy burns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/no-tears-to-damn-you-when-jealousy-burns/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [And we have come so far like that. I mean, the advances on the medication side have been enormous, and the advances on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/and-we-have-come-so-far-like-that-i-mean-the-advances-on-the/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids, in fact it's cold as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/mars-ain-t-the-kind-of-place-to-raise-your-kids-in-fact-it-s-cold-as/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm not bored with my life. I'm not just making the records and touring, I would find that boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-not-bored-with-my-life-i-m-not-just-making-the-records-and/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life. I love the food. I love the people. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-places-that-have-an-incredible-history-i-love-the-italian-way/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I used to get my money at the end of the week, buy my mum something, or buy a record, and that was it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-used-to-get-my-money-at-the-end-of-the-week-buy-my-mum-something-or/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [We have a society where every hit maker and TV presenter is gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/we-have-a-society-where-every-hit-maker-and-tv-presenter-is-gay/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm very relaxed. I'm very happy with my personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-very-relaxed-i-m-very-happy-with-my-personal-life/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [You can beat her, but don't mistreat her. Oh, don't believe that woman please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/you-can-beat-her-but-don-t-mistreat-her-oh-don-t-believe-that-woman/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [The Backstreet Boys can sing their asses off. I'm not so sure about those other boy bands. But Backstreet Boys have my ultimate respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/the-backstreet-boys-can-sing-their-asses-off-i-m-not-so-sure-about/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I grew up at my grandmother's house, and she had a beautiful garden. I used to hate mowing the lawn and weeding, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-grew-up-at-my-grandmother-s-house-and-she-had-a-beautiful-garden-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [ He \[Ryan White\] had a kind of angelic aura about him. And his family, too, it's like, they are going through all this suffering,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/he-ryan-white-had-a-kind-of-angelic-aura-about-him-and-his-family-too/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Welcome to the world of bullshit, my dear. You have arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/welcome-to-the-world-of-bullshit-my-dear-you-have-arrived/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) [Explore all 352 Elton John quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A great editor is the most valuable thing you can have as an artist because, as you said, sometimes you get too close to something. 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