--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An artist has to be humble, an editor…" description: "\"An artist has to be humble, an editor must be officious, and a publisher must be somewhere out in the galaxy enjoying godhood. It was a caste system, p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/jack-kirby-4317_accepted_an-artist-has-to-be-humble-an-editor-mus_3158996.jpg" --- # An artist has to be humble, an editor must be officious… ![“An artist has to be humble, an editor must be officious, and a publisher must be somewhere out in the galaxy enjoying godhood. It was a caste system, pure and simple. And it was accepted that way. Nobody thought of contracts, nobody thought of insisting on better deals.” quote by Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/jack-kirby-4317_accepted_an-artist-has-to-be-humble-an-editor-mus_3158996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/jack-kirby-4317_accepted_an-artist-has-to-be-humble-an-editor-mus_3158996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/jack-kirby-4317_accepted_an-artist-has-to-be-humble-an-editor-mus_3158996.jpg) > “An artist has to be humble, an editor must be officious, and a publisher must be somewhere out in the galaxy enjoying godhood. It was a caste system, pure and simple. And it was accepted that way. Nobody thought of contracts, nobody thought of insisting on better deals.” [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The publishing hierarchy places artists, editors, and publishers in distinct, often unequal roles, creating a rigid caste system. **In simple terms:** Industry roles are hierarchical and unequal. Key Takeaway Challenge the entrenched hierarchy for fairness. Themes industry hierarchy power inequality creative publishing artist editor publisher Mood critical reflective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - comic creation - publishing negotiations - creative collaboration Key Concepts Caste system contractual rights Questions to Reflect On - How can creators gain more equitable power? - What reforms could balance creative and business interests? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched structures can meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Caste system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caste-system/) [Castes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/castes/) [Galaxy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/galaxy/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Publishers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishers/) ## Related quotes > [Comics have a caste system - an editor has to act in a certain way, an artist has to be humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/comics-have-a-caste-system-an-editor-has-to-act-in-a-certain-way-an/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [For he that but conceives a crime in thought, Contracts the danger of an actual fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-creech/for-he-that-but-conceives-a-crime-in-thought-contracts-the-danger-of/) [Thomas Creech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-creech/) > [“Whenever an artist becomes dominated by his own ignorance, his art loses value, for it is only the professional artist that can be humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/whenever-an-artist-becomes-dominated-by-his-own-ignorance-his-art/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“The position of the artist is humble. 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