--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't trust an artist that just makes…" description: "\"You can't trust an artist that just makes good records.\" — Nick Cave" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/nick-cave-1153_art_you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-make_2223493.jpg" --- # You can't trust an artist that just makes good records. ![“You can't trust an artist that just makes good records.” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/nick-cave-1153_art_you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-make_2223493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/nick-cave-1153_art_you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-make_2223493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/nick-cave-1153_art_you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-make_2223493.jpg) > “You can't trust an artist that just makes good records.” [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists who only produce commercially successful records may lack artistic depth or authenticity. **In simple terms:** Good records don’t guarantee trust in an artist. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity over commercial success. Themes art authenticity trust Mood skeptical inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - music criticism - artist development - consumer education Key Concepts creative integrity industry pressure critical listening Questions to Reflect On - How to differentiate genuine art from market‑driven work? - What role does audience expectation play? A Different Perspective Commercial success can coexist with authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Good records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-records/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [Never trust the artist, trust the tale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/never-trust-the-artist-trust-the-tale/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I've never read a screenplay in advance. You trust the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-dalle/i-ve-never-read-a-screenplay-in-advance-you-trust-the-artist/) [Beatrice Dalle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrice-dalle/) > [Never trust the artist. Trust the tale. The proper function of the critic is to save the tale from the artist who created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/never-trust-the-artist-trust-the-tale-the-proper-function-of-the/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [To create is to relate. We trust in the artist in everybody to make his own connections, his own juxtapositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corita-kent/to-create-is-to-relate-we-trust-in-the-artist-in-everybody-to-make/) [Corita Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corita-kent/) > [The human race does not have a very good record of intelligent behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-human-race-does-not-have-a-very-good-record-of-intelligent/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Good records - from my point of view, where I grew up which was Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull... bands that were pushing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kip-winger/good-records-from-my-point-of-view-where-i-grew-up-which-was-led/) [Kip Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kip-winger/) > [“If history records good things of good men, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good: or if it records evil of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bede/if-history-records-good-things-of-good-men-the-thoughtful-hearer-is/) Bede > [Of course you want to keep making good records, but I think there were certain aspects to the indie rock situation at that point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/of-course-you-want-to-keep-making-good-records-but-i-think-there-were/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [If it's a good record or a good recording, then word of mouth will build for that reason, not before the fact, not before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-krug/if-it-s-a-good-record-or-a-good-recording-then-word-of-mouth-will/) [Spencer Krug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-krug/) > [I've always felt that maybe one of the reasons that I did well as a student and made such good grades was because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-ve-always-felt-that-maybe-one-of-the-reasons-that-i-did-well-as-a/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [40% of homicides go unsolved. You know, it's not a very good record. And, also, 95% of convictions in America come from plea bargaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/40-of-homicides-go-unsolved-you-know-it-s-not-a-very-good-record-and/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I'm just trying to make a good record that my fans will dig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-fowler/i-m-just-trying-to-make-a-good-record-that-my-fans-will-dig/) [Kevin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-fowler/) > [Having solidarity is important and having conviction and sticking with it and also consistency. You can't just have one good record, or a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-jarman/having-solidarity-is-important-and-having-conviction-and-sticking/) [Ryan Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-jarman/) > [Oh God almighty, another Detroit monster is Chad Smith of the Chili Peppers. Their music is intoxicating between Flea and Chad Smith. They're contemporary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/oh-god-almighty-another-detroit-monster-is-chad-smith-of-the-chili/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Well, that's going to be up to the pundits and the people to make up their mind. I'll tell you what is a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/well-that-s-going-to-be-up-to-the-pundits-and-the-people-to-make-up/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by Nick Cave > [Texting is apocalyptic on some level. It's a reduction of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/texting-is-apocalyptic-on-some-level-it-s-a-reduction-of-things/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“And I know why our friendship must be kept a secret. Or they will kill You like they killed You in the Bible. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/and-i-know-why-our-friendship-must-be-kept-a-secret-or-they-will-kill/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I want to write songs that are so sad, the kind of sad where you take someone's little finger and break it in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-want-to-write-songs-that-are-so-sad-the-kind-of-sad-where-you-take/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“Through these days Bunny made increasingly frequent and protracted visits to the bathroom, beating off with a single-minded savagery intense even by Bunny's standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/through-these-days-bunny-made-increasingly-frequent-and-protracted/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Personally I find the story of Christ incredibly moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/personally-i-find-the-story-of-christ-incredibly-moving/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [ That's what we \[outsiders\] feel America is really about - the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right - when it's probably something… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/that-s-what-we-outsiders-feel-america-is-really-about-the-kind-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-relationship-with-my-muse-is-a-delicate-one-at-the-best-of-times/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I'm kind of old-school and love nothing more than sitting, opening a book, and reading it. But I also love listening to audio books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-m-kind-of-old-school-and-love-nothing-more-than-sitting-opening-a/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Early on I realized when you write a song about someone, it flatters them on some level, and gives you a lot of room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/early-on-i-realized-when-you-write-a-song-about-someone-it-flatters/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [My father was a teacher and my mother also worked in the school, so the family has a background in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-father-was-a-teacher-and-my-mother-also-worked-in-the-school-so/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I think it's an essential fact for any performer or artist to fail as poignantly as they can succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-think-it-s-an-essential-fact-for-any-performer-or-artist-to-fail-as/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [To my undying shame, I do read reviews. I don't read them all, but I like to get some kind of idea how things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/to-my-undying-shame-i-do-read-reviews-i-don-t-read-them-all-but-i/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Brother, be a brother, fill this tiny cup of mine. And please, sir, make it whiskey: I have no head for wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/brother-be-a-brother-fill-this-tiny-cup-of-mine-and-please-sir-make/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [When you've been initiated, you can stand in the world differently. And I think it is up to all of us, we can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/when-you-ve-been-initiated-you-can-stand-in-the-world-differently-and/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Polly Jean, I love you. I love the texture of your skin, the taste of your saliva, the softness of your ears. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/polly-jean-i-love-you-i-love-the-texture-of-your-skin-the-taste-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) [Explore all 280 Nick Cave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## 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": "You can't trust an artist that just makes good records.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nick Cave" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-makes-good-records/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-makes-good-records/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/nick-cave-1153_art_you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-make_2223493.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/nick-cave-1153_art_you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-make_2223493.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/nick-cave-1153_art_you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-make_2223493.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't trust an artist that just makes good records.” — Nick Cave", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nick Cave", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't trust an artist that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-makes-good-records/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/you-can-t-trust-an-artist-that-just-makes-good-records/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```