--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought he was the greatest thing. Bob…" description: "\"I thought he was the greatest thing. Bob Dylan.\" — Kris Kristofferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/kris-kristofferson-4931_bob-dylan_i-thought-he-was-the-greatest-thing-bob_2335137.jpg" --- # I thought he was the greatest thing. Bob Dylan. ![“I thought he was the greatest thing. Bob Dylan.” quote by Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/kris-kristofferson-4931_bob-dylan_i-thought-he-was-the-greatest-thing-bob_2335137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/kris-kristofferson-4931_bob-dylan_i-thought-he-was-the-greatest-thing-bob_2335137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/kris-kristofferson-4931_bob-dylan_i-thought-he-was-the-greatest-thing-bob_2335137.jpg) > “I thought he was the greatest thing. Bob Dylan.” [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bob Dylan was perceived as the ultimate artistic figure by the speaker. **In simple terms:** Bob Dylan seemed supreme. Key Takeaway Acknowledge artistic influence. Themes admiration musical legacy iconography Mood contemplative nostalgic Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - music criticism - personal inspiration - legacy discussions Key Concepts cultural impact artist worship subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - Who else deserves such praise? - How does idolization affect creativity? A Different Perspective Subjective view may ignore other talents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bob dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bob-dylan/) [Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan/) [Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) [Greatest thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-thing/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Thing Bob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-bob-5631797/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-greatest-378926/) ## Related quotes > [During the Sixties, the Americans thought I was the greatest thing in the history of cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-winner/during-the-sixties-the-americans-thought-i-was-the-greatest-thing-in/) [Michael Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-winner/) > [That's who I wanted to be like was Bob Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/that-s-who-i-wanted-to-be-like-was-bob-dylan/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Any real Bob Dylan fan would sleep with Jonah Lehrer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/any-real-bob-dylan-fan-would-sleep-with-jonah-lehrer/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I never could understand - it was impossible for me to get my head around - what the furor was, what the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/i-never-could-understand-it-was-impossible-for-me-to-get-my-head/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [“We’re freer now, less encumbered by plans, more overwhelmed by the range of available choices, each of us enacting that wonderful line from Bob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-noxon/we-re-freer-now-less-encumbered-by-plans-more-overwhelmed-by-the/) [Christopher Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-noxon/) > [Look at Bob Dylan: his voice is not a great sound, but it gets the idea across... and that is what's really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/look-at-bob-dylan-his-voice-is-not-a-great-sound-but-it-gets-the-idea/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [Courtney Love's name should be right next to Bob Dylan when they say best lyricist of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perry/courtney-love-s-name-should-be-right-next-to-bob-dylan-when-they-say/) [Linda Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perry/) > [I've been really, really blessed. I got to perform on stage with Bob Dylan. I've gotten to sing with Mick Jagger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-ve-been-really-really-blessed-i-got-to-perform-on-stage-with-bob/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Most of the artists were trying to make a living, trying to get laid, trying to figure out who they were. They weren't trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/most-of-the-artists-were-trying-to-make-a-living-trying-to-get-laid/) [David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/) > [ Probably the high-watermark of \[Bob\] Dylan's career came after he plugged in his guitar ("Judas!" one fan shouted during a concert) and exploded American… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/probably-the-high-watermark-of-bob-dylan-s-career-came-after-he/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [I first met (Bob Dylan) in '65. We've had a friendship for a long time. He decided to play on a record I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-sahm/i-first-met-bob-dylan-in-65-we-ve-had-a-friendship-for-a-long-time-he/) [Doug Sahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-sahm/) > [Producing Bob Dylan was pretty much a spectator sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kooper/producing-bob-dylan-was-pretty-much-a-spectator-sport/) [Al Kooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kooper/) > [ The most recent incarnation of \[Bob\] Dylan has been the traveling journeyman/ charlatan who sings roots music, snarls dark lyrics that make "All Along… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/the-most-recent-incarnation-of-bob-dylan-has-been-the-traveling/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) ## More by Kris Kristofferson > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [That's who I wanted to be like was Bob Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/that-s-who-i-wanted-to-be-like-was-bob-dylan/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Just remember that William Blake wasn't even published in his lifetime. Ya gotta keep creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/just-remember-that-william-blake-wasn-t-even-published-in-his/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Peter Cooper looks at the world with an artist's eye and a human heart and soul. His songs are the work of an original,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/peter-cooper-looks-at-the-world-with-an-artist-s-eye-and-a-human/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Freedom is just another word: It seems to get truer the older I get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/freedom-is-just-another-word-it-seems-to-get-truer-the-older-i-get/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [What really makes me happy now is my home. I know that I have that to lose. But I don't see losing it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/what-really-makes-me-happy-now-is-my-home-i-know-that-i-have-that-to/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [I turned 30 as a janitor. I was thinking at the time that Hank Williams died when he was 29. All my peers were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-turned-30-as-a-janitor-i-was-thinking-at-the-time-that-hank/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [There are points in your life, especially if you have creative ambitions, where selfishness is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/there-are-points-in-your-life-especially-if-you-have-creative/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [I always had to wait until something hit me, and I could write it. But when I would cut an album, to me it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-always-had-to-wait-until-something-hit-me-and-i-could-write-it-but/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [The older I get, the less conservative I become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/the-older-i-get-the-less-conservative-i-become/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [I wish my memory weren't so bad. They tell me it's from all the football and boxing and the concussions that I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-wish-my-memory-weren-t-so-bad-they-tell-me-it-s-from-all-the/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Never's just the echo of forever, lonesome as a love that might have been. Let me go on lovin' and believin' 'til it's over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/never-s-just-the-echo-of-forever-lonesome-as-a-love-that-might-have/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [I feel like an old boxer. The brain's gone, but I can still move around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-feel-like-an-old-boxer-the-brain-s-gone-but-i-can-still-move-around/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Being in love with a lot of people is incompatible with a stable family life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/being-in-love-with-a-lot-of-people-is-incompatible-with-a-stable/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [The closest Ive come to knowing myself is in losing myself. Thats why I loved football before I loved music. I could lose myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/the-closest-ive-come-to-knowing-myself-is-in-losing-myself-thats-why/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) [Explore all 105 Kris Kristofferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) ## More Bob dylan quotes > [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [ The most recent incarnation of \[Bob\] Dylan has been the traveling journeyman/ charlatan who sings roots music, snarls dark lyrics that make "All Along… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/the-most-recent-incarnation-of-bob-dylan-has-been-the-traveling/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [That's who I wanted to be like was Bob Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/that-s-who-i-wanted-to-be-like-was-bob-dylan/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Neil Young and Bob Dylan are my main influences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-simpson/jack-johnson-john-mayer-neil-young-and-bob-dylan-are-my-main/) [Cody Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-simpson/) > [Producing Bob Dylan was pretty much a spectator sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kooper/producing-bob-dylan-was-pretty-much-a-spectator-sport/) [Al Kooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kooper/) > [I first met (Bob Dylan) in '65. We've had a friendship for a long time. He decided to play on a record I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-sahm/i-first-met-bob-dylan-in-65-we-ve-had-a-friendship-for-a-long-time-he/) [Doug Sahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-sahm/) > [ Probably the high-watermark of \[Bob\] Dylan's career came after he plugged in his guitar ("Judas!" one fan shouted during a concert) and exploded American… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/probably-the-high-watermark-of-bob-dylan-s-career-came-after-he/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [Most of the artists were trying to make a living, trying to get laid, trying to figure out who they were. They weren't trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/most-of-the-artists-were-trying-to-make-a-living-trying-to-get-laid/) [David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/) > [I've been really, really blessed. I got to perform on stage with Bob Dylan. I've gotten to sing with Mick Jagger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-ve-been-really-really-blessed-i-got-to-perform-on-stage-with-bob/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Courtney Love's name should be right next to Bob Dylan when they say best lyricist of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perry/courtney-love-s-name-should-be-right-next-to-bob-dylan-when-they-say/) [Linda Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perry/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Look at Bob Dylan: his voice is not a great sound, but it gets the idea across... and that is what's really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/look-at-bob-dylan-his-voice-is-not-a-great-sound-but-it-gets-the-idea/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“We’re freer now, less encumbered by plans, more overwhelmed by the range of available choices, each of us enacting that wonderful line from Bob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-noxon/we-re-freer-now-less-encumbered-by-plans-more-overwhelmed-by-the/) [Christopher Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-noxon/) > [I never could understand - it was impossible for me to get my head around - what the furor was, what the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/i-never-could-understand-it-was-impossible-for-me-to-get-my-head/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) [Browse all 351 Bob dylan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bob-dylan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought he was the greatest thing. 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