Portrait of Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

Singer-songwriter, Nobel laureate

Contemporary influential 128 sayings

Sayings by Bob Dylan

I started out writing songs for myself. I didn't care if anyone else liked them or not. I still don't.

1966 — Interview with Robert Shelton, New York Times
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I don't think I'm a spokesman for anything. I'm a musician. I write songs. I don't have to be a spokesman for anything.

1965 — Press conference, San Francisco
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I think of myself more as a song and dance man.

1966 — Interview with Nat Hentoff, Playboy
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

Some people are artists. Some people are not. It's just a simple fact.

1978 — Interview with Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

There's no such thing as 'folk music.' It's all just music.

c. 1963 — Interview, early 1960s
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I don't carry a gun, but I do carry a Bible. And some people say that's more dangerous.

1997 — Interview with Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times
Biblical Unverifiable

I'm just a song and dance man, that's all. I'm not a preacher, I'm not a politician.

2004 — Interview with Ed Bradley, 60 Minutes
Political Unverifiable

I don't write political songs. I write songs that are true to me.

c. 1963 — Interview, early 1960s
Political Unverifiable

I never consider myself a folk singer. I'm a songster.

2015 — Interview with Marc Maron, WTF Podcast
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

The purpose of art is to stop time.

2006 — Interview with Bill Flanagan, Bob Dylan's 'Theme Time Radio Hour'
Inspirational Unverifiable

I don't think about 'messages.' I just write songs.

1965 — Press conference, San Francisco
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I'm a performer. I perform. That's what I do.

1997 — Interview with Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I'm not gonna sing 'Blowin' in the Wind' for the rest of my life.

c. 1964 — Interview, early 1960s, expressing frustration with expectations
Nature & World Unverifiable

I don't think about the past. I think about the present and the future.

1978 — Interview with Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone
Wisdom Unverifiable

I'm not interested in being a celebrity. I'm interested in being a songwriter.

1966 — Interview with Robert Shelton, New York Times
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I just play the guitar and sing. That's all there is to it.

1966 — Interview with Jules Siegel, The Saturday Evening Post
Wisdom Unverifiable

I don't have any answers. I just have questions.

c. 1963 — Interview, early 1960s
Wisdom Unverifiable

I don't write for posterity. I write for now.

1997 — Interview with Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I don't sing about things that are going to get me into trouble.

c. 1963 — Interview, early 1960s
Wisdom Unverifiable

I'm not a prophet. I'm just a guy who writes songs.

2004 — Interview with Ed Bradley, 60 Minutes
Art & Creativity Unverifiable
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