--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been in this business for a long…" description: "\"I've been in this business for a long while, but it's not like I've been waiting tables. Since I started writing, I've only worked on things that I lov..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/joss-whedon-480_art_i-ve-been-in-this-business-for-a-long-wh_1329074.png" --- # I've been in this business for a long while, but it's not… ![“I've been in this business for a long while, but it's not like I've been waiting tables. Since I started writing, I've only worked on things that I love. I've had a lot of heartbreak, but you don't become an artist and not expect that.” quote by Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/joss-whedon-480_art_i-ve-been-in-this-business-for-a-long-wh_1329074.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/joss-whedon-480_art_i-ve-been-in-this-business-for-a-long-wh_1329074.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/joss-whedon-480_art_i-ve-been-in-this-business-for-a-long-wh_1329074.png) > “I've been in this business for a long while, but it's not like I've been waiting tables. Since I started writing, I've only worked on things that I love. I've had a lot of heartbreak, but you don't become an artist and not expect that.” [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes working only on beloved projects despite hardships, noting that heartbreak is inherent to artistry. **In simple terms:** Artists must follow passion, accept pain. Key Takeaway Pursue love, not just profit. Themes creativity passion hardship Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - writing career - film production - personal projects Key Concepts artistic integrity resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance love for work with financial needs? - What coping strategies help artists endure heartbreak? A Different Perspective Heartbreak can stall progress if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Heartbreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbreak/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [As an artist, you can't expect a producer to just bring you a record. If you walk in and say, 'I want Kanye West's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/as-an-artist-you-can-t-expect-a-producer-to-just-bring-you-a-record/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Any artist must expect to work amid the total, rational indifference of everybody else to their work, for years, perhaps for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/any-artist-must-expect-to-work-amid-the-total-rational-indifference/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“I am an artist, my hair is rarely tamed & sometimes I sleep till noon, My house is messy and I speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/i-am-an-artist-my-hair-is-rarely-tamed-sometimes-i-sleep-till-noon-my/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [Sometimes when you sign to label as a black artist, they expect you to have a certain appeal. It's like they think they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-hunt/sometimes-when-you-sign-to-label-as-a-black-artist-they-expect-you-to/) [Van Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-hunt/) > [ A writer, or any artist, can’t expect to be embraced by the people \[but\] you just keep doing your work - because you have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/a-writer-or-any-artist-can-t-expect-to-be-embraced-by-the-people-but/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“A writer or any artist can’t expect to be embraced by the people. I've done records where it seemed like no one listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/a-writer-or-any-artist-can-t-expect-to-be-embraced-by-the-people-i-ve/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I've been very fortunate that I've worked since I left drama school in 1976.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-ve-been-very-fortunate-that-i-ve-worked-since-i-left-drama-school/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I sometimes think that, since I started writing biographies, I've had more of a life in books than I have had in my real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-sometimes-think-that-since-i-started-writing-biographies-i-ve-had/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [When you are in business for a long time, you go through good times and bad times. When you go through bad times, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/when-you-are-in-business-for-a-long-time-you-go-through-good-times/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [“A man will not mind his own business as long as he is not happy with his own life and as long he lacks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahad-basheer/a-man-will-not-mind-his-own-business-as-long-as-he-is-not-happy-with/) [Fahad Basheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahad-basheer/) > [I want to be in this business as long as this business will have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-friedle/i-want-to-be-in-this-business-as-long-as-this-business-will-have-me/) [Will Friedle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-friedle/) > [If you stay in this business long enough, you're liable to hit it big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kanaly/if-you-stay-in-this-business-long-enough-you-re-liable-to-hit-it-big/) [Steve Kanaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kanaly/) > [You can't run a company simply by the numbers. So if you're going to bet on someone, you bet on someone you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-pascal/you-can-t-run-a-company-simply-by-the-numbers-so-if-you-re-going-to/) [Amy Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-pascal/) > [ When you start in that \[model\] business the rules are imposed upon you, but when you stay in the business long enough the rules… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/when-you-start-in-that-model-business-the-rules-are-imposed-upon-you/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [I've been in this business a long time, and I've worked with a lot of different directors now. It's cool to get the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rooker/i-ve-been-in-this-business-a-long-time-and-i-ve-worked-with-a-lot-of/) [Michael Rooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rooker/) ## More by Joss Whedon > [I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-do-remember-what-i-said-the-promise-to-protect-her-if-i-d-done-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Every vampire fiction reinvents vampires to its own needs. You take what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/every-vampire-fiction-reinvents-vampires-to-its-own-needs-you-take/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [When you're making a film, you have an obligation to fill the frame with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/when-you-re-making-a-film-you-have-an-obligation-to-fill-the-frame/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Everything we do really is just a little marker on the long road to death. 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There's no fuzzy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/people-feel-removed-from-sexism-i-m-not-a-sexist-but-i-m-not-a/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Even in the darkness, every color can be found. And every day of rain brings water flowing to things growing in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/even-in-the-darkness-every-color-can-be-found-and-every-day-of-rain/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I never tire of the heroes that I knew growing up. The fun is not that much different from doing a television show: You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-never-tire-of-the-heroes-that-i-knew-growing-up-the-fun-is-not-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Don't just be yourself. Be all of your selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/don-t-just-be-yourself-be-all-of-your-selves/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I always watch what I say. I am what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-always-watch-what-i-say-i-am-what-i-say/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/remember-to-always-be-yourself-unless-you-suck/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I've become less cynical, which is appalling but kind of cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-ve-become-less-cynical-which-is-appalling-but-kind-of-cool/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Xander: It could be witches, some evil witches, which is ridiculous cause witched they were persecuted, women power, love the eatrh, and I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/xander-it-could-be-witches-some-evil-witches-which-is-ridiculous/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [There's a lot of anger in the Twitter-verse, as I've discovered. But there's a lot of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/there-s-a-lot-of-anger-in-the-twitter-verse-as-i-ve-discovered-but/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) [Explore all 529 Joss Whedon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## 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": "I've been in this business for a long while, but it's not like I've been waiting tables. 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