--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know what to expect, having not…" description: "\"I didn't know what to expect, having not been an artist before. From the outside, you only see romantic snapshots of what seems like a great lifestyle,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/sam-hunt-3215_art_i-didn-t-know-what-to-expect-having-not_1914911.jpg" --- # I didn't know what to expect, having not been an artist… ![“I didn't know what to expect, having not been an artist before. From the outside, you only see romantic snapshots of what seems like a great lifestyle, and it is, but it's also grueling.” quote by Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/sam-hunt-3215_art_i-didn-t-know-what-to-expect-having-not_1914911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/sam-hunt-3215_art_i-didn-t-know-what-to-expect-having-not_1914911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/sam-hunt-3215_art_i-didn-t-know-what-to-expect-having-not_1914911.jpg) > “I didn't know what to expect, having not been an artist before. From the outside, you only see romantic snapshots of what seems like a great lifestyle, and it is, but it's also grueling.” [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker discovers that the glamorous image of an artist hides a demanding, exhausting reality, challenging romanticized expectations. **In simple terms:** Artistry is hard work, not just romance. Key Takeaway Prepare for effort. Themes career reality expectations hardship Mood thoughtful serious Type reflective realistic When to use this quote - touring - studio sessions - public scrutiny Key Concepts creative industry pressures image vs. reality Questions to Reflect On - What expectations do you hold about creative work? - How can you support artists realistically? A Different Perspective Idealized views can cause disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Grueling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grueling/) [Having Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-artist-2906402/) [Lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifestyle/) [Lifestyle Grueling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifestyle-grueling-2906400/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Outside Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-romantic-2906403/) [Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic/) [Romantic Snapshots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic-snapshots-2906401/) ## Related quotes > [“A high self-esteem having artist works hard to be understood. A low self-esteem having artist works hard to be agreed with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-high-self-esteem-having-artist-works-hard-to-be-understood-a-low/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I remember telling myself when I got to start having artist opportunities, 'Let yourself be a fan, because you are. The minute that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsea-ballerini/i-remember-telling-myself-when-i-got-to-start-having-artist/) [Kelsea Ballerini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsea-ballerini/) > [I came into having an artist's career in this very sheepish and directionless way. It's hard to explain, but I was 18 years old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porter-robinson/i-came-into-having-an-artist-s-career-in-this-very-sheepish-and/) [Porter Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porter-robinson/) > [I went to see Dad in hospital after he had gone through one particularly grueling operation. I walked into the room where he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-joyce/i-went-to-see-dad-in-hospital-after-he-had-gone-through-one/) [Rachel Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-joyce/) > [Series work is just grueling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-urich/series-work-is-just-grueling/) [Robert Urich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-urich/) > [The last two years, ever since I became a Lok Sabhha member, I've been working round the clock. It's grueling work through the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirron-kher/the-last-two-years-ever-since-i-became-a-lok-sabhha-member-i-ve-been/) [Kirron Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirron-kher/) > [To make a movie is very grueling at times. Long, long hours and cold weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/to-make-a-movie-is-very-grueling-at-times-long-long-hours-and-cold/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [I've done a lot of different tours. 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I'll never forget that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/i-was-given-two-weeks-to-walk-again-so-i-hooked-up-with-a-trainer-and/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) ## More by Sam Hunt > [New experiences give you new perspectives on life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/new-experiences-give-you-new-perspectives-on-life/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [Sometimes I'm not even aware of some of the issues going on with me in my life until I sit down and start kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/sometimes-i-m-not-even-aware-of-some-of-the-issues-going-on-with-me/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I do think I'm country, but your definition of that word might be different from my definition. In my opinion, country music, the sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-do-think-i-m-country-but-your-definition-of-that-word-might-be/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I was pretty gung-ho about music and pursuing that and figuring that whole thing out, so I was wide-eyed and ready to go when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-was-pretty-gung-ho-about-music-and-pursuing-that-and-figuring-that/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [We drove right past That no trespassing sign Sat on the tailgate And watched the planes take off Thought we had all night There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/we-drove-right-past-that-no-trespassing-sign-sat-on-the-tailgate-and/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [In a small town, it's either sports or a band with your buddies. I was always athletic. But in college, I was exposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/in-a-small-town-it-s-either-sports-or-a-band-with-your-buddies-i-was/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [You want to stand out and be unique and do something different. I always try to zig when they zag - I guess it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/you-want-to-stand-out-and-be-unique-and-do-something-different-i/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I had some interesting costumes... the one that I remember right offhand is Zorro when I was a lot younger. I was a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-had-some-interesting-costumes-the-one-that-i-remember-right-offhand/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [There's not a day goes by that I don't appreciate the freedom that I have to make music and tour and spend time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/there-s-not-a-day-goes-by-that-i-don-t-appreciate-the-freedom-that-i/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [Well there ain't enough smoke in my eyes To hide the kinda games you're trying to play Honey don't you act so surprised You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/well-there-ain-t-enough-smoke-in-my-eyes-to-hide-the-kinda-games-you/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I wish I could make multiple records, stylistically. The way that I'm gonna remedy that is to make a diverse record with a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-wish-i-could-make-multiple-records-stylistically-the-way-that-i-m/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [The first song I learned on the guitar was a Kenny Chesney song called 'What I Need to Do'; it was just an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/the-first-song-i-learned-on-the-guitar-was-a-kenny-chesney-song/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I wasn't intentionally trying to be different, but that was an element of what I naturally do that happened to be unique enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-wasn-t-intentionally-trying-to-be-different-but-that-was-an-element/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I love what Drake does, but I don't want to be called the Drake of country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-love-what-drake-does-but-i-don-t-want-to-be-called-the-drake-of/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I've tried to work really hard on never phoning in the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-ve-tried-to-work-really-hard-on-never-phoning-in-the-lyrics/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) [Explore all 136 Sam Hunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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