--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because I'm so busy and because I think…" description: "\"Because I'm so busy and because I think of myself as a painter, I desperately guard the time that I have to paint. And sometimes I'm irresponsible to m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a90/joni-mitchell-1160_artist_because-i-m-so-busy-and-because-i-think_529879.jpg" --- # Because I'm so busy and because I think of myself as a… ![“Because I'm so busy and because I think of myself as a painter, I desperately guard the time that I have to paint. And sometimes I'm irresponsible to my career in order to paint. Because painting is obsessive. I forget to eat. I forget to sleep.” quote by Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a90/joni-mitchell-1160_artist_because-i-m-so-busy-and-because-i-think_529879.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a90/joni-mitchell-1160_artist_because-i-m-so-busy-and-because-i-think_529879.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a90/joni-mitchell-1160_artist_because-i-m-so-busy-and-because-i-think_529879.jpg) > “Because I'm so busy and because I think of myself as a painter, I desperately guard the time that I have to paint. And sometimes I'm irresponsible to my career in order to paint. Because painting is obsessive. I forget to eat. I forget to sleep.” [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative obsession can dominate life, causing neglect of basic needs and responsibilities. **In simple terms:** Obsessive art can harm health and work. Key Takeaway Balance art with self‑care. Themes creativity obsession balance Mood reflective determined Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - setting boundaries - scheduled breaks - health monitoring Key Concepts work‑life integration self‑care time management Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries protect your well‑being? - How can you schedule creative time health? A Different Perspective Total immersion may lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Busy Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-think-266202/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Irresponsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresponsible/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Obsessive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessive/) [Obsessive Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessive-forget-4453939/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Obsessive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-obsessive-4453938/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Think Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-painter-1195611/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm irresponsible to my career in order to paint. Because painting is obsessive. I forget to eat. I forget to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-m-irresponsible-to-my-career-in-order-to-paint-because-painting-is/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [Our culture is obsessed with being busy, and I think it's crazy. I don't fill all my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frazey-ford/our-culture-is-obsessed-with-being-busy-and-i-think-it-s-crazy-i-don/) [Frazey Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frazey-ford/) > [You know, I must really work hard. I'm in the last stage of my artistic life. But I'm so busy that I can't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yayoi-kusama/you-know-i-must-really-work-hard-i-m-in-the-last-stage-of-my-artistic/) [Yayoi Kusama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yayoi-kusama/) > [“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atwood-h-townsend/no-matter-how-busy-you-may-think-you-are-you-must-find-time-for/) [Atwood H. Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atwood-h-townsend/) > [Bees are not as busy as we think they are. They jest can't buzz any slower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/bees-are-not-as-busy-as-we-think-they-are-they-jest-can-t-buzz-any/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [Let's be honest; it's rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/let-s-be-honest-it-s-rather-easy-to-be-busy-we-all-can-think-up-a/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Look, I get it. Whether it's school, work, family, we've all got a lot on our minds. People say to me, "I'm just too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/look-i-get-it-whether-it-s-school-work-family-we-ve-all-got-a-lot-on/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [Most of the time you're too busy to think about it. But every now and then you say, 'I work at 'Saturday Night Live,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/most-of-the-time-you-re-too-busy-to-think-about-it-but-every-now-and/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I've waited my entire life to be busy. Whenever I hear actors complain about being busy, I think, 'shut up.' Because you do, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-ve-waited-my-entire-life-to-be-busy-whenever-i-hear-actors-complain/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Never be so busy as not to think of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/never-be-so-busy-as-not-to-think-of-others/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [People don't understand: I've always been busy. They think that, "Oh, he's too busy, blah blah blah...," but for me, this is how it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-wilson/people-don-t-understand-i-ve-always-been-busy-they-think-that-oh-he-s/) [Russell Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-wilson/) > [No matter how busy you are, or how busy you think you are, the work will always be there tomorrow, but your friends might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-busy-you-are-or-how-busy-you-think-you-are-the-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Are you busy being who you think you're supposed to be? Let it go, relax and just be who God meant you to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/are-you-busy-being-who-you-think-you-re-supposed-to-be-let-it-go/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have no ideas about what the paintings imply about the world. I don't think that's a painter's business. He just paints paintings without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/i-have-no-ideas-about-what-the-paintings-imply-about-the-world-i-don/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) ## More by Joni Mitchell > [They paved paradise and put up a parkin lot With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hot spot Don't it always seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/they-paved-paradise-and-put-up-a-parkin-lot-with-a-pink-hotel-a/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [I have one piece of music, since 1997, and I don't see it having lyrics. Where does it go in this world? So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-have-one-piece-of-music-since-1997-and-i-don-t-see-it-having-lyrics/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [Musically, I would never run dry. Any time I sit down to an instrument, I could write a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/musically-i-would-never-run-dry-any-time-i-sit-down-to-an-instrument/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [You snipe so steady, you snub so snide, so rip and ready to diminish and deride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/you-snipe-so-steady-you-snub-so-snide-so-rip-and-ready-to-diminish/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [I loved Debussy, Stravinsky, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, anything with romantic melodies, especially the nocturnes. Nietzsche was a hero, especially with 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra.' He gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-loved-debussy-stravinsky-chopin-tchaikovsky-anything-with-romantic/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [When the spirit of child's play enters into the creative process, it's a wonderful force and something to be nurtured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/when-the-spirit-of-child-s-play-enters-into-the-creative-process-it-s/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [Americans have decided to be stupid and shallow since 1980.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/americans-have-decided-to-be-stupid-and-shallow-since-1980/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [I was young for my age. Not as naïve as they expected. I don't know why I seem to bring that out in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-was-young-for-my-age-not-as-na-ve-as-they-expected-i-don-t-know-why/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [This is a nation that has lost the ability to be self-critical, and that makes a lie out of the freedoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/this-is-a-nation-that-has-lost-the-ability-to-be-self-critical-and/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [Land of snap decisions, land of short attention spans, nothing is savored long enough to really understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/land-of-snap-decisions-land-of-short-attention-spans-nothing-is/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [I like my freedom. I like to do my own grocery shopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-like-my-freedom-i-like-to-do-my-own-grocery-shopping/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [I'm not a pitiable creature. It's just that I suffer very eloquently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-m-not-a-pitiable-creature-it-s-just-that-i-suffer-very-eloquently/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [I can't remember anything I ever wrote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-can-t-remember-anything-i-ever-wrote/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) [Explore all 281 Joni Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [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 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/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because I'm so busy and because I think of myself as a painter, I desperately guard the time that I have to paint. And sometimes I'm irresponsible to my career in order to paint. Because painting is obsessive. I forget to eat. 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