Top 10 Quotes – Creativity – Artists – Art – Work – Takeaways – Further Readings
Here are 100 of the best Rick Rubin quotes.
And you’ll learn a ton:
- How to be more creative
- The importance of focusing on the process
- The value of meditation and silence
- The value of simplicity in your art
But first, who’s Rick Rubin (1963- )?
- He’s a renowned American music producer (and considered one of the most influential of all time)
- He produced for Eminem, LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Johnny Cash, to name a few
- He’s the author of The Creative Act
He’s also known for his iconic beard and his practice of transcendental meditation since his teens.
This practice influenced his calm and intuitive approach to music production.
Finally, he’s also known for posting disappearing quotes on the social web (Instagram, X).
I hope you’ll find inspiration as much as I did when curating and reading these powerful artistic and life insights.
Enjoy!
Top 10 Rick Rubin Quotes
Put on your blinders and focus on creating something you love. Rick Rubin
When we’re making things we love, our mission is accomplished. Rick Rubin
Our path is to collaborate with what’s happening. Not to fight it. Rick Rubin
Any thought you have about outcome undermines the whole thing. Rick Rubin
If you’re commited to doing your best work at all times, your best work is always today. Rick Rubin
The best way to serve the audience is to ignore them. Rick Rubin
I’m not making it for them. I’m making it for me. And it turns out that when you make something truly for yourself, you’re doing the best thing you possibly can for the audience. Rick Rubin
What you have to offer is what’s inside of you. Rick Rubin
When you make something truly for yourself, you’re doing the best thing you possibly can for the audience. Rick Rubin
Through expression we meet ourselves. Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin Quotes About Creativity
Make it personal. It’s always yours. Rick Rubin
Learn to disconnect. Rick Rubin
What’s unexpressed has power. Rick Rubin
Leave room for interpretation. Rick Rubin
Innocence brings forth innovation. Rick Rubin
Follow your own inner guide. It directs us. Rick Rubin
Sometimes disengagement is the best way to engage. Rick Rubin
Look for what you notice but no one else sees. Rick Rubin
Don’t let the voices in your head stop you from feeling free. Rick Rubin
Sometimes adversity creates an environment for good things to grow. Rick Rubin
If you chase creativity it may not come. The muse doesn’t like to be observed. Rick Rubin
We are dealing in a magic realm. And nobody knows why or how it works. Rick Rubin
Creativity can just be in relationship with yourself. No one else need be in the equation. Rick Rubin
To create is to bring something into existence that wasn’t there before. Rick Rubin
In terms of priority, inspiration comes first. You come next. The audience comes last. Rick Rubin
Create an environment where you’re free to express what you’re afraid to express. Rick Rubin
If you create what you love, others will love it too. Rick Rubin
No matter what tools you use to create, the true instrument is you. Rick Rubin
Create a structure that works for you. There is no “right” way. Rick Rubin
Pay attention to the culture without being driven by the culture. Rick Rubin
Follow what’s interesting. Don’t worry about the outcome. Rick Rubin
Emotions are your source material. Rick Rubin
We find our true voice through experimentation. Rick Rubin
Most rules direct us to average behaviors. Rick Rubin
Have the confidence to jump in with both feet. Rick Rubin
We can never predict the outcome. Rick Rubin
Inspiration tends to show up in play. Rick Rubin
Always leave space for more. Rick Rubin
Related
- 100 Cal Newport Quotes (On Social Media, Deep Work, Solitude)
- 201 Steve Jobs Quotes (The Ultimate List)
- 100 Jordan Peterson Quotes On Responsibility, Order, Life
Rick Rubin Quotes About Artists
Everything we make as artists are essentially diary entries. Rick Rubin
The world is only as free as it allows its artists to be. Rick Rubin
The artist isn’t looking for a way out. He’s looking for a way in. Rick Rubin
As artists, our mission is not to fit in or conform to popular thinking. Rick Rubin
We are born artists. And then society does its best to beat it out of us. Rick Rubin
Aspiring artist have a desire to be seen. Establish artists face the pressure of knowing they’ll be seen. Rick Rubin
As artists, we seek to restore our childlike perception: a more innocent state of wonder and appreciation not tethered to utility or survival. Rick Rubin
When someone believes passionately in what they are saying, even if we don’t agree with it, we can be moved by their enthusiam. Sometimes it’s about passion, not content. Rick Rubin
Art creates a profound connection between the artist and the audience. And through that connection, both of them can heal. Rick Rubin
We tend to think of the artist’s work as the output. The real work of the artist is a way of being in the world. Rick Rubin
The artist’s goal is to keep themselves pure and unattached. Rick Rubin
The synergy of a group is as important, if not more important, than the talent of the individuals. Rick Rubin
The artist is the one who recaptures that child-like fascination with the world. Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin Quotes About Art
If you get the art right, the commerce side of it works itself out. Rick Rubin
Art doesn’t come in a quarterly way. Rick Rubin
The best pieces don’t tell you what to think. Rick Rubin
Art without meaning is just decoration. The art is in the idea. Rick Rubin
The work reveals itself as you go. It tells you what it wants to be. Rick Rubin
Art doesn’t get made on the clock. But it can get finished on the clock. Rick Rubin
Measurement of greatness is subjective, like art itself. There is no hard metric. Rick Rubin
Part of the artistic journey is about connecting with something inward that is universal. Rick Rubin
Art isn’t in the tools, material, and equipment you use. It’s in the way you see the world. Rick Rubin
We have no responsibility to anything other than the art itself. The art is the final word. Rick Rubin
There is no pure ranking system for artistic success. Only you know if it’s successful or not. Rick Rubin
Sharing art is the price of making it. Exposing your vulnerability is the fee. Rick Rubin
Are you expressing yourself in service of the art, or in service of commerce? Rick Rubin
All art is a form of poetry. Rick Rubin
The audience comes last. Rick Rubin
Art is nourishment. Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin Quotes About Work
The ones who break through tend to have a work ethic to support their dream. Rick Rubin
Humanity breathes in mistakes. Rick Rubin
Be patient, however long it takes. Rick Rubin
Belief carries disproportional energy. Rick Rubin
Making a beautiful thing is a noble pursuit. Rick Rubin
Some mistakes are actually subconscious problem solving. Rick Rubin
The best work is the one you are excited about. Rick Rubin
Failure is the information you need to get where you’re going. Rick Rubin
Being aware of the audience as you’re making your work changes it. Rick Rubin
Identifying the problem can be as integral as finding the solution. Rick Rubin
Take a first step and see where it leads. The direction isn’t important yet. Rick Rubin
You’re successful as soon as you send your work out into the world. Rick Rubin
You’re making your work as a gift. Rick Rubin
Hanging on to your work is like spending years writing the same entry in a diary. Rick Rubin
The imagination has no limits. The physical world does. The work exists in both. Rick Rubin
Intentionality makes a work what it is. Money often dilutes intention. Rick Rubin
Competition serves the ego. Cooperation supports the highest outcome. Rick Rubin
Do you want to be right? Or do you want what’s best for the work? Rick Rubin
Your gift might be in an area different than the one you choose. Rick Rubin
If you don’t let it go, the process of finishing a work can be endless. Rick Rubin
Reduce your work to the absolute essentials you can’t live without. Rick Rubin
Never say you can’t do it. Say I haven’t done it yet. Rick Rubin
Work as hard as you can to be able to share it. Rick Rubin
When editing, practice non-attachment. Rick Rubin
What does the simple version look like?
Quality over deadlines. Rick Rubin
Conclusion
Strive for work so good that someone will care about it 20 years from now. Rick Rubin
Key Takeaways From Rick Rubin’s Quotes
Here are 5 simple things you can learn from Rick Rubin:
- Process > Outcome. Like Rubin teaches, don’t worry about outcomes. Focus on showing up, not on perfection. Build rituals, not pressure.
- Deep listening. Like Rubin, learn to listen to your inner voice and intuition. Quiet external noise through mindfulness or journaling.
- Simplicity. Rubin’s minimalist production style strips away excess to highlight essence. In your life, declutter physical spaces, schedules, or goals to focus on what truly matters
- Open and quiet. Rubin believes creativity comes from being receptive to the world (art, nature, culture, conversations). Read widely or explore new hobbies. Expose yourself to diverse experiences to spark new ideas.
- Authenticity and uncertainty. Rubin encourages creators to ignore what’s popular and instead focus on what feels authentic, even if it’s unconventional. So don’t seek approval. Trust your gut more than external noise.
Further Readings
- Topic: Life
- 75 Words of Wisdom From The Best Minds (Ever)
- 77 Life Lessons Quotes (To Learn And Grow)
- Rick Rubin’s Daily Routine (10-minute YouTube video with Andrew Huberman)
- Unlock Your Creativity with Rick Rubin (7-minute YouTube video with Glo)
- Rick Rubin Addresses Criticisms & OPENS UP About His Greatest Challenge in Life (1-hour-36-minute YouTube video with Jay Shetty)
I hope you enjoyed these inspiring quotes by Rick Rubin.
If you did, please share them with a friend today!
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