--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's just a compulsion to create…" description: "\"It's just a compulsion to create something new and stay busy. I don't know how to do anything else. It was never exactly right. Those records came out ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/stephen-malkmus-2984_busy_it-s-just-a-compulsion-to-create-somethi_2393750.png" --- # It's just a compulsion to create something new and stay… ![“It's just a compulsion to create something new and stay busy. I don't know how to do anything else. It was never exactly right. Those records came out in spite of their flaws. And because of their flaws they were good.” quote by Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/stephen-malkmus-2984_busy_it-s-just-a-compulsion-to-create-somethi_2393750.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/stephen-malkmus-2984_busy_it-s-just-a-compulsion-to-create-somethi_2393750.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/stephen-malkmus-2984_busy_it-s-just-a-compulsion-to-create-somethi_2393750.png) > “It's just a compulsion to create something new and stay busy. I don't know how to do anything else. It was never exactly right. Those records came out in spite of their flaws. And because of their flaws they were good.” [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative drive forces him to stay busy; imperfections become part of the art. **In simple terms:** He creates to avoid idle time, flaws add value. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection in creation. Themes creativity imperfection productivity Mood introspective motivational Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - studio sessions - daily routines Key Concepts artistic process music production writing Questions to Reflect On - What drives your creative compulsion? - How do you turn flaws into strengths? A Different Perspective Flaws may be perceived as flaws by others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Compulsion Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion-create-2895943/) [Flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws/) [Flaws Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws-good-1866929/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Records Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records-came-1601115/) [Right Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-records-5970961/) [Something new](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-new/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Stay Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-busy/) ## Related quotes > [My compulsion is to create things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/my-compulsion-is-to-create-things/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [I belonged to the Columbia Record Club, and that's where my records came from. For some reason, I was in the 'jazz' category. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-belonged-to-the-columbia-record-club-and-that-s-where-my-records/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I was 21. At the time, I was under the thumb of my label, and I felt like I had to do, say and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-was-21-at-the-time-i-was-under-the-thumb-of-my-label-and-i-felt/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) > [It's good to recognize your flaws, but it's also good to recognize your skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/it-s-good-to-recognize-your-flaws-but-it-s-also-good-to-recognize/) [J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/) > [All I am really promoting in the books is the Golden Rule, which I hope everybody knows to be "do as you would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/all-i-am-really-promoting-in-the-books-is-the-golden-rule-which-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation," she said. "Evil is easy to fight. Lack of wisdom… that is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-most-dangerous-flaws-are-those-which-are-good-in-moderation-she/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [There's never a mistake in the universe. So if your partner is angry, good. If there are things about him that you consider flaws,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/there-s-never-a-mistake-in-the-universe-so-if-your-partner-is-angry/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-most-dangerous-flaws-are-those-which-are-good-in-moderation/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [And yet the real success goes to those who obsess. The focus that leads you through the Dip to the other side is rewarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/and-yet-the-real-success-goes-to-those-who-obsess-the-focus-that/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [“I've learned that if I stay busy, especially by helping others, I don't think about my pain. In an odd way, my pain is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-piper/i-ve-learned-that-if-i-stay-busy-especially-by-helping-others-i-don-t/) [Don Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-piper/) > [I'm always looking for ways that I can work from home with my home studio and stay busy. This is a great way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/i-m-always-looking-for-ways-that-i-can-work-from-home-with-my-home/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [It's important that the kids stay busy. It's important that they have something to focus on, and something that they feel good about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chita-rivera/it-s-important-that-the-kids-stay-busy-it-s-important-that-they-have/) [Chita Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chita-rivera/) > [I love working. If somebody took away my jobs, I don't know what I would do. I'm just the kind of person who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/i-love-working-if-somebody-took-away-my-jobs-i-don-t-know-what-i/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [When you're on a roll, you want to stay busy - you want to keep that momentum going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-lawler/when-you-re-on-a-roll-you-want-to-stay-busy-you-want-to-keep-that/) [Robbie Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-lawler/) > [I love to stay busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-love-to-stay-busy/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) ## More by Stephen Malkmus > ['Silence Kid' starts with a broken classic-rock intro. It's funny to hear us do that. Obviously, we weren't skillful rock stars. Then it's spinning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/silence-kid-starts-with-a-broken-classic-rock-intro-it-s-funny-to/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [What producers did was mostly recording in the studio, so it never changed our sound just that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/what-producers-did-was-mostly-recording-in-the-studio-so-it-never/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm better when I'm an autodidact and things just come. Or you're just blessed. I'm not bragging or anything, it just comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-better-when-i-m-an-autodidact-and-things-just-come-or-you-re-just/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [Men are men and women are women, but the men are dumber than the women, usually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/men-are-men-and-women-are-women-but-the-men-are-dumber-than-the-women/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I am good at just looking in the kitchen and getting stuff on the table and keeping the mess minimal. There's an art to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-am-good-at-just-looking-in-the-kitchen-and-getting-stuff-on-the/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [ Traditionally, when we lived here \[in Portland\], we have a record player in the living room, and there's lots of stuff playing, all different… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/traditionally-when-we-lived-here-in-portland-we-have-a-record-player/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [The word "down," is very musical. It just always comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/the-word-down-is-very-musical-it-just-always-comes/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm more into describing a scenario and I move around in that scenario.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-more-into-describing-a-scenario-and-i-move-around-in-that-scenario/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I like visual imagery in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-like-visual-imagery-in-my-head/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'll cover just about anything - except for a Kid Rock song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-ll-cover-just-about-anything-except-for-a-kid-rock-song/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [“I cannot do even one sit-up / Sit-ups are so bourgeoisie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-cannot-do-even-one-sit-up-sit-ups-are-so-bourgeoisie/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I like a narrative, even if it's fractured, or kind of psychedelic. But my favorite thing is if I hear words and I close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-like-a-narrative-even-if-it-s-fractured-or-kind-of-psychedelic-but/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [Freddie Gray was a story I followed closer than others, for whatever reason, in this larger narrative of police brutality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/freddie-gray-was-a-story-i-followed-closer-than-others-for-whatever/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [We're not on a desperate mission to write chart compatible stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/we-re-not-on-a-desperate-mission-to-write-chart-compatible-stuff/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm not dying for things to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-not-dying-for-things-to-say/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) [Explore all 143 Stephen Malkmus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) [Victoria Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-derbyshire/) > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) [The Shawshank Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-shawshank-redemption/) [Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's just a compulsion to create something new and stay busy. I don't know how to do anything else. It was never exactly right. Those records came out in spite of their flaws. 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