--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being an artist and having a following…" description: "\"Being an artist and having a following can be a very scary thing because idolization makes you question your inner role in the universe. A lot of peopl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/halsey-28169_art_being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-c_3075440.jpg" --- # Being an artist and having a following can be a very scary… ![“Being an artist and having a following can be a very scary thing because idolization makes you question your inner role in the universe. A lot of people get caught up in this idea of, "Wow! This world does revolve around me," and it most certainly does not. It's the exact opposite; these people…” quote by Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/halsey-28169_art_being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-c_3075440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/halsey-28169_art_being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-c_3075440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/halsey-28169_art_being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-c_3075440.jpg) > “Being an artist and having a following can be a very scary thing because idolization makes you question your inner role in the universe. A lot of people get caught up in this idea of, "Wow! This world does revolve around me," and it most certainly does not. It's the exact opposite; these people don't exist for you, you exist for them.” [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fame can distort self‑perception, making artists feel central to the world when they are actually part of a larger audience. **In simple terms:** Fame skews self‑view; you’re not the center. Key Takeaway Remember your purpose beyond fans. Themes identity fame humility self‑perception Mood anxious reflective Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - concerts - social media - public appearances - creative work Key Concepts ego idolization role consciousness Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay grounded amid adulation? - What responsibilities come with influence? A Different Perspective Fans’ expectations can pressure authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Being an artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-an-artist/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Scary things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary-things/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I just always wanted a platform. In the past, I always dreamed of having a following and a fan base - you know, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-just-always-wanted-a-platform-in-the-past-i-always-dreamed-of/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [Living is having and following a purpose. That's all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/living-is-having-and-following-a-purpose-that-s-all/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“We have faces of notable figures printed on every currency in the world today. Isn’t that some form of idol worshipping?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soroosh-shahrivar/we-have-faces-of-notable-figures-printed-on-every-currency-in-the/) [Soroosh Shahrivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soroosh-shahrivar/) > [Ultimately all idolatry is worship of the self projected and objectified: all idolization is self-idolization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-herberg/ultimately-all-idolatry-is-worship-of-the-self-projected-and/) [Will Herberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-herberg/) > [“I don’t even believe that Jesus Christ himself was perfect. To be human IS TO BE imperfect. Ultimately, the difference between an asshole or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bravandt/i-don-t-even-believe-that-jesus-christ-himself-was-perfect-to-be/) [Deborah Bravandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bravandt/) > [The artists always reflect the times, so there's a lot to think about, a lot of unknowns, a lot of things that are describable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/the-artists-always-reflect-the-times-so-there-s-a-lot-to-think-about/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [If you're a struggling artist having money problems just superglue a brick in the middle of a blanket, and call it art. Someone will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-mckay/if-you-re-a-struggling-artist-having-money-problems-just-superglue-a/) [Nicole McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-mckay/) > [The most important thing for me as an artist is having an identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-church/the-most-important-thing-for-me-as-an-artist-is-having-an-identity/) [Eric Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-church/) > [I think part of being an artist is having the ability to define your own responsibilities. I certainly wouldn't prescribe any. As far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-coupey/i-think-part-of-being-an-artist-is-having-the-ability-to-define-your/) Pierre Coupey > [ I think what you see \[in Salome the play backstage\] is an artist having this fit of temperament. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-think-what-you-see-in-salome-the-play-backstage-is-an-artist-having/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I think being an artist is having the courage to be original. Many great artists, including Picasso, have all been influenced by the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rosenquist/i-think-being-an-artist-is-having-the-courage-to-be-original-many/) [James Rosenquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rosenquist/) > [Talk about a struggling artist having to work against enormous odds ... But I love movies so much, so I'm going to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/talk-about-a-struggling-artist-having-to-work-against-enormous-odds/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [The artists who have inspired me the most in my life are the ones who have really had something to say and stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/the-artists-who-have-inspired-me-the-most-in-my-life-are-the-ones-who/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [No great art has ever been made without the artist having known danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/no-great-art-has-ever-been-made-without-the-artist-having-known-danger/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) ## More by Halsey > [It doesn't matter how many private jets you take, how much money you make, how famous you get, keep putting in the hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/it-doesn-t-matter-how-many-private-jets-you-take-how-much-money-you/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I feel like a lot of people look at pop music with a very formulaic perspective in numbers and patterns, but an outsider would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-people-look-at-pop-music-with-a-very-formulaic/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [The thing about being an artist is that you evolve so quickly, you grow, you learn, you change, you find yourself hating work that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/the-thing-about-being-an-artist-is-that-you-evolve-so-quickly-you/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [Anyone who has been with me from the beginning has worked from the trenches with me and they've worked really hard. People that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/anyone-who-has-been-with-me-from-the-beginning-has-worked-from-the/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I love '80s happy music. I love Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, and the idea of making music that's about people celebrating fun. I spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-love-80s-happy-music-i-love-cyndi-lauper-and-madonna-and-the-idea/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I wake up every day and think about what I am to other people. What I am to the people I employ, who depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-wake-up-every-day-and-think-about-what-i-am-to-other-people-what-i/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I've met so many amazing fans in the couple of weeks since the release of my second album, and everyone keeps telling me they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-ve-met-so-many-amazing-fans-in-the-couple-of-weeks-since-the/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [It usually takes me 20 to 90 minutes to write a song because once I start, I don't stop. I like when it's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/it-usually-takes-me-20-to-90-minutes-to-write-a-song-because-once-i/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I think that sometimes people fear continuity because it can turn into repetition - and there's a lot of artists who are really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-think-that-sometimes-people-fear-continuity-because-it-can-turn/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [As an artist you very much want to have control over your dialogue and your image and when you become exposed in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/as-an-artist-you-very-much-want-to-have-control-over-your-dialogue/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [If I start writing a song and you try to have a conversation with me, you're a bad person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/if-i-start-writing-a-song-and-you-try-to-have-a-conversation-with-me/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [ Pop music really is a love and a joy and a science \[of songwriting\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/pop-music-really-is-a-love-and-a-joy-and-a-science-of-songwriting/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I write songs very quickly, so the 20 minutes of joy I get out of writing a song doesn't compare to the two months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-write-songs-very-quickly-so-the-20-minutes-of-joy-i-get-out-of/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [Before Guadalcanal the enemy advanced at his pleasure - after Guadalcanal he retreated at ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/before-guadalcanal-the-enemy-advanced-at-his-pleasure-after/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [It can be difficult going through a period of time where you feel depressed because it can become your identifier. In the sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/it-can-be-difficult-going-through-a-period-of-time-where-you-feel/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) [Explore all 19 Halsey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) ## 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": "Being an artist and having a following can be a very scary thing because idolization makes you question your inner role in the universe. A lot of people get caught up in this idea of, \"Wow! This world does revolve around me,\" and it most certainly does not. It's the exact opposite; these people don't exist for you, you exist for them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Halsey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-can-be-a-very-scary-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-can-be-a-very-scary-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/halsey-28169_art_being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-c_3075440.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/halsey-28169_art_being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-c_3075440.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/halsey-28169_art_being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-c_3075440.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being an artist and having a following can be a very scary thing because idolization makes you question your…” — Halsey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Halsey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being an artist and having a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-can-be-a-very-scary-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/being-an-artist-and-having-a-following-can-be-a-very-scary-thing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```