Bob Dylan Quotes

American songwriter and folk icon, Bob Dylan has had a lot to say in his long career, and these Bob Dylan quotes give an insight into him as a man and artist. Dylan came to public attention with the 1960's folk music revival and is recording and touring today.

1. "People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent." Dylan has a better grasp on human psychology than many so called experts. What people really believe in is comfort.
   
2. "What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." Folk music has always been much more about passion for the art than about commercialism. Of course, when your stomach is full, it is easier to care about the art than the money.
   
3. When The Huffington Post asked Dylan was asked why he, unlike other acts from his era, doesn't perform the same old songs in the same old way, he replied, "I couldn't if I tried. Those guys you are talking about all had conspicuous hits. They started out anti-establishment and now they are in charge of the world. Celebratory songs. Music for the grand dinner party. Mainstream stuff that played into the culture on a pervasive level. My stuff is different from those guys. It's more desperate. Daltrey, Townshend, McCartney, the Beach Boys, Elton, Billy Joel. They made perfect records, so they have to play them perfectly ... exactly the way people remember them. My records were never perfect. So there is no point in trying to duplicate them. Anyway, I'm no mainstream artist." Other acts from his era lost their rough edges over time, but Dylan never did. He stayed true to his original style.
4. "Death to me is nothing ... death to me means nothing as long as I can die fast. Many times I've known I could have been able to die fast, and I could have easily gone over and done it. I'll admit to having this suicidal thing ... but I came through this time." Dylan revealed this dark struggle in a 1966 interview with author Robert Shelton. When he spoke these words to Shelton he had recently kicked a heroin addiction.
5. "Democracy don't rule the world, you'd better get that in your head; this world is ruled by violence, but I guess that's better left unsaid." The source of Dylan's anti-war sentiments are seen here. This is another example of the hard spoken truths he is so well known for.