---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's our job as artists is to be honest…"
description: "\"That's our job as artists is to be honest about what we're feeling. And what we're feeling is not always going to be perfect. Sometimes it's going to b..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/pharrell-williams-2306_art_that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-hones_357699.jpg"
---

#  That's our job as artists is to be honest about what we're…

![“That's our job as artists is to be honest about what we're feeling. And what we're feeling is not always going to be perfect. Sometimes it's going to be controversial. Sometimes it's going to piss a couple of people off. Sometimes it's going to motivate people. Sometimes it's going to inspire.” quote by Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/pharrell-williams-2306_art_that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-hones_357699.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/pharrell-williams-2306_art_that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-hones_357699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/pharrell-williams-2306_art_that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-hones_357699.jpg)

> “That's our job as artists is to be honest about what we're feeling. And what we're feeling is not always going to be perfect. Sometimes it's going to be controversial. Sometimes it's going to piss a couple of people off. Sometimes it's going to motivate people. Sometimes it's going to inspire.”

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Artists should express genuine feelings, even if imperfect, controversial, or unsettling, because honesty can provoke, motivate, or inspire audiences.

**In simple terms:** Artists must be honest, even if it ups or inspires.

Key Takeaway

Embrace honesty, accept varied reactions.

Themes

authenticity expression controversy inspiration motivation

Mood

reflective provocative

Type

artistic philosophical

When to use this quote

- gallery openings
- social media posts
- political art
- personal diaries
- public performances

Key Concepts

artistic integrity emotional honesty public reception

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance honesty with audience expectations?
- When does controversy become counterproductive?

A Different Perspective

Honesty may alienate some audiences or limit commercial appeal.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [The most fun part about working out is being done - getting through the workout, let's be honest. But that feeling afterward? Yeah, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/the-most-fun-part-about-working-out-is-being-done-getting-through-the/)

[Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/)

> [Most female artists - to do what you have to do and to be as honest as you have to be, to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/most-female-artists-to-do-what-you-have-to-do-and-to-be-as-honest-as/)

[Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/)

> [Being honest in the spotlight is the worst idea . But I do like when artists are honest and are able to build a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ackermann/being-honest-in-the-spotlight-is-the-worst-idea-but-i-do-like-when/)

[Rita Ackermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ackermann/)

> [I think my favorite artists are honest artists, and as a songwriter, that's what you have to do. You have to be willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-alaina/i-think-my-favorite-artists-are-honest-artists-and-as-a-songwriter/)

[Lauren Alaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-alaina/)

> [I think what you're always looking for as artists is to be honest and to continue to be honestly driven by that which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/i-think-what-you-re-always-looking-for-as-artists-is-to-be-honest-and/)

[Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/)

> [To me, it's our job as artists. You must bring joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/to-me-it-s-our-job-as-artists-you-must-bring-joy/)

[Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/)

> [It is the job of artists to open doors and invite in prophesies, the unknown, the unfamiliar; it’s where their work comes from, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/it-is-the-job-of-artists-to-open-doors-and-invite-in-prophesies-the/)

[Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/)

> [“Our first job as artists, then, is to venture out, away from what we think we know in search of the new and unexplored.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/our-first-job-as-artists-then-is-to-venture-out-away-from-what-we/)

[Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/)

> [Someone once asked me what I regarded as the three most important requirements for happiness. My answer was: A feeling that you have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/someone-once-asked-me-what-i-regarded-as-the-three-most-important/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [So-called leaders aren't doing anything, so it's become the job of artists like me. We have to get on the front lines and fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantastic-negrito/so-called-leaders-aren-t-doing-anything-so-it-s-become-the-job-of/)

[Fantastic Negrito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantastic-negrito/)

> [I believe that every artist has his or her own vision of the world; our job as artists is to find and express that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-katchen/i-believe-that-every-artist-has-his-or-her-own-vision-of-the-world/)

[Carole Katchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-katchen/)

> [I find that in life all you can do is try to be honest about who you are and how you're feeling, and trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-adams/i-find-that-in-life-all-you-can-do-is-try-to-be-honest-about-who-you/)

[Amy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-adams/)

> [I think artists are going to express things from an emotional point of view, that's their job, to suggest and interpret, and report what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-artists-are-going-to-express-things-from-an-emotional-point/)

[Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/)

> [“The crucial job of artists is to find a way to release materials into the animated middle ground between subjects, and so to initiate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lauterbach/the-crucial-job-of-artists-is-to-find-a-way-to-release-materials-into/)

Ann Lauterbach

> [Our job as artists, we believe, is not to make changes in society. We don't have the ability to do that. We reflect life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/our-job-as-artists-we-believe-is-not-to-make-changes-in-society-we/)

[John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/)

## More by Pharrell Williams

> [Happiness is not about the trophy, or the finish line. It's the journey. If you enjoy your journey, you can enjoy your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/happiness-is-not-about-the-trophy-or-the-finish-line-it-s-the-journey/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [“If you kiss her mind, her body will follow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/if-you-kiss-her-mind-her-body-will-follow/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [Tokyo is like the New York of Asia. Although the people there are all basically from Japan, they celebrate what they like about various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/tokyo-is-like-the-new-york-of-asia-although-the-people-there-are-all/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [Stay loyal to your creativity because it's a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/stay-loyal-to-your-creativity-because-it-s-a-gift/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/clap-along-if-you-feel-like-that-s-what-you-wanna-do/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [Music is what I love to do. Music, fashion, a couple of chairs, I'm cool, I'm grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/music-is-what-i-love-to-do-music-fashion-a-couple-of-chairs-i-m-cool/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> ["Happy" feels good... I just like when stuff feels good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/happy-feels-good-i-just-like-when-stuff-feels-good/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [A lot of my creative projects are inspired and driven by technology and style. My mission is to recycle as much plastic possible in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/a-lot-of-my-creative-projects-are-inspired-and-driven-by-technology/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [As a kid, I always had a super vivid imagination, like "Man, I like those shoes, but they should've made them in purple" or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/as-a-kid-i-always-had-a-super-vivid-imagination-like-man-i-like-those/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [So many people just have that innate thing that allows them to express themselves in a way the majority can follow. That's when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/so-many-people-just-have-that-innate-thing-that-allows-them-to/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [Nothing's difficult. I'm having a good time. I look at this as a total blessing, you know, and as myself being fortunate to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/nothing-s-difficult-i-m-having-a-good-time-i-look-at-this-as-a-total/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [For every individual who gets killed, someone should build a school or teach a child. We really need to balance things with positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/for-every-individual-who-gets-killed-someone-should-build-a-school-or/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [That's what music should be like all the time. No stress, moving things forward, inspiring the youth, and doing it with style and vigor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/that-s-what-music-should-be-like-all-the-time-no-stress-moving-things/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [I love playing. The keyboard is my journal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/i-love-playing-the-keyboard-is-my-journal/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

> [I love everything that Frank Gehry does. I wish I could have that man build me a Wayne Manor-style mansion, like his idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/i-love-everything-that-frank-gehry-does-i-wish-i-could-have-that-man/)

[Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

[Explore all 173 Pharrell Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/)

## 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": "That's our job as artists is to be honest about what we're feeling. And what we're feeling is not always going to be perfect. Sometimes it's going to be controversial. Sometimes it's going to piss a couple of people off. Sometimes it's going to motivate people. Sometimes it's going to inspire.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pharrell Williams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-honest-about-what-we-re-feeling/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-honest-about-what-we-re-feeling/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/pharrell-williams-2306_art_that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-hones_357699.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/pharrell-williams-2306_art_that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-hones_357699.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/pharrell-williams-2306_art_that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-hones_357699.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That's our job as artists is to be honest about what we're feeling. And what we're feeling is not always…” — Pharrell Williams",
                "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": "Pharrell Williams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That's our job as artists is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-honest-about-what-we-re-feeling/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/that-s-our-job-as-artists-is-to-be-honest-about-what-we-re-feeling/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
