I’ve always had an obligation to creation, above all.

Meaning of the quote

To put it simply, Nick Cave believes that his most important duty is to create and make new things, even more than anything else. He feels a strong responsibility to use his talents and gifts to make art and music, which he sees as more important than other obligations or priorities in his life.

About Nick Cave

Nick Cave is an acclaimed Australian musician, writer, and actor known for his powerful baritone voice and the emotional intensity of his music, which explores themes of death, religion, love, and violence. He first gained recognition as the frontman of the post-punk band The Birthday Party before forming the enduring group Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, whose sound has evolved over the decades.

More about the author

More quotes from Nick Cave

Getting married, for me, was the best thing I ever did. I was suddenly beset with an immense sense of release, that we have something more important than our separate selves, and that is the marriage. There’s immense happiness that can come from working towards that.

Nick Cave

Australian musician

I’ve always had an obligation to creation, above all.

Nick Cave

Australian musician

I’m very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It’s the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange.

Nick Cave

Australian musician

At some point you start seeing the difference between what you really want, and what is your priority order. I feel that today I know what I want. That’s the problem with perspective, as well as focus and concentration.

Nick Cave

Australian musician

I’m a believer. I don’t go to church. I don’t belong to any particular religion, but I do believe in God. I couldn’t write what I write about and be creative without a certain form of belief.

Nick Cave

Australian musician

People think I’m a miserable sod but it’s only because I get asked such bloody miserable questions.

Nick Cave

Australian musician

I write a lot, and very often I write a couple of lines that are particularly revealing in some kind of way. And then as a few more lines get added and a piece gets added, eventually the song pretty much takes over and you can’t really find a way to change those things.

Nick Cave

Australian musician

An artist’s duty is rather to stay open-minded and in a state where he can receive information and inspiration. You always have to be ready for that little artistic Epiphany.

Nick Cave

Australian musician

I love rock-n-roll. I think it’s an exciting art form. It’s revolutionary. Still revolutionary and it changed people. It changed their hearts. But yeah, even rock-n-roll has a lot of rubbish, really bad music.

Nick Cave

Australian musician