--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being an artist doesn't take much. Just…" description: "\"“Being an artist doesn't take much. Just everything you got. Which means of course that as the process is giving you life, it is also bringing you clos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/hubert-selby-jr-2-25618_art_being-an-artist-doesn-t-take-much-just-e_3009004.jpg" --- # Being an artist doesn't take much. Just everything you… ![“Being an artist doesn't take much. Just everything you got. Which means of course that as the process is giving you life, it is also bringing you closer to death. But it's no big deal. They are one in the same and cannot be avoided or denied. So when I totally embrace this process, this…” quote by Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/hubert-selby-jr-2-25618_art_being-an-artist-doesn-t-take-much-just-e_3009004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/hubert-selby-jr-2-25618_art_being-an-artist-doesn-t-take-much-just-e_3009004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/hubert-selby-jr-2-25618_art_being-an-artist-doesn-t-take-much-just-e_3009004.jpg) > ““Being an artist doesn't take much. Just everything you got. Which means of course that as the process is giving you life, it is also bringing you closer to death. But it's no big deal. They are one in the same and cannot be avoided or denied. So when I totally embrace this process, this life/death, and abandon myself to it completely, I transcend all this gibberish and hang out with the gods. It seems to me that that is worth the price of admission.”” [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art forces confronting mortality, merging creation with death, leading to transcendence when fully embraced. **In simple terms:** Art mixes life and death, and embracing both can lift you beyond ordinary concerns. Key Takeaway Accept the process, let go, and seek higher insight. Themes mortality creation transcendence acceptance Mood introspective intense Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - performing arts - personal crisis - creative projects - rituals - meditation Key Concepts existentialism artistic expression spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting mortality affect your creative work? - What does “hanging out with the gods” mean to you? A Different Perspective The intensity may overwhelm those unprepared for confronting death. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Being an artist doesn’t take much, just everything you got. Which means, of course, that as the process is giving you life, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/being-an-artist-doesn-t-take-much-just-everything-you-got-which-means/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [Every dream has a process and a price tag. Those who embrace the process and pay the price, live the dream. Those who dont,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-dream-has-a-process-and-a-price-tag-those-who-embrace-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you are finding that you can stop thought longer and longer, I would say your life is bringing power into your being. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-are-finding-that-you-can-stop-thought-longer-and-longer-i/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [life is always bringing unexpected gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/life-is-always-bringing-unexpected-gifts/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [“Don't underestimate the power of your daily agenda. Every choice you make, every step you take, is shaping your path to success. 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Gelb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-gelb/) > [Life is bringing me everything I need and MORE!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/life-is-bringing-me-everything-i-need-and-more/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [Life will keep bringing you the same test, over & over again, til you pass it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-joesph/life-will-keep-bringing-you-the-same-test-over-over-again-til-you/) Jesse Joesph > [“Only when we begin to let what we believe affect what we do are we able to embrace the process of formation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ashcraft/only-when-we-begin-to-let-what-we-believe-affect-what-we-do-are-we/) [Mike Ashcraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ashcraft/) > [“On this upward and sometimes hazardous journey, each of us meets our share of daily challenges. If we are not careful, as we peer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/on-this-upward-and-sometimes-hazardous-journey-each-of-us-meets-our/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“when you embrace the process of your work, instead of focusing on the results, you’ll always be happier, plus do a much better job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/when-you-embrace-the-process-of-your-work-instead-of-focusing-on-the/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Funny how Destiny play its part in your life, bringing two hearts together despite the distance...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce/funny-how-destiny-play-its-part-in-your-life-bringing-two-hearts/) [Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce/) > [“I am grateful for all the goodness in my life. I think life for bringing me so much joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/i-am-grateful-for-all-the-goodness-in-my-life-i-think-life-for/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [Every dream has a process and a price tag. Those who embrace the process and pay the price, live the dream. Those who don't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-riddle/every-dream-has-a-process-and-a-price-tag-those-who-embrace-the-2/) [Jeremy Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-riddle/) > [My big philosophy is: Try and work with good people, because the process is your life. That's going to be really, really hard. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-fox/my-big-philosophy-is-try-and-work-with-good-people-because-the/) [Dana Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-fox/) ## More by Hubert Selby Jr > [“Time has to pass. But sometimes its so goddamn long. Sometimes it just seems to drag and drag and weigh a ton. And hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/time-has-to-pass-but-sometimes-its-so-goddamn-long-sometimes-it-just/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“They luxuriated in the feeling of deep and all pervading satisfaction, a feeling of knowing absolutely that all was well with the world...Not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/they-luxuriated-in-the-feeling-of-deep-and-all-pervading-satisfaction/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“It's always the same--you get used to one thing, then it changes. Get used to another, and that changes. Over and over. Always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/it-s-always-the-same-you-get-used-to-one-thing-then-it-changes-get/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“That's why you can't be worried about the world. They'll just do you in anyway. 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I left at 15.. I started to write becase I was taken off a ship from Germany when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/why-did-you-start-to-write-i-left-at-15-i-started-to-write-becase-i/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“I need more than the streets. I don’t want to be a floating crap game all my life. I want to be something .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/i-need-more-than-the-streets-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-floating-crap-game/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“In the winter everyones hate was bare if you looked. She saw hate in the icicles that hung from her window; she saw it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/in-the-winter-everyones-hate-was-bare-if-you-looked-she-saw-hate-in/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“It/ll be better tomorrow...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/it-ll-be-better-tomorrow/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“...and yet there was not a definable thought in his mind. Only a terrifying effort to get from one side of a match box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/and-yet-there-was-not-a-definable-thought-in-his-mind-only-a/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“A guy needs something to give his life a reason or what's the point of living?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/a-guy-needs-something-to-give-his-life-a-reason-or-what-s-the-point/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [“I guess we're kindred souls and that's why we can feel so close to each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/i-guess-we-re-kindred-souls-and-that-s-why-we-can-feel-so-close-to/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) [Explore all 22 Hubert Selby Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) ## 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. 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