Justin Vernon Quotes

I feel I was born with the music coming to me, and that's not something to be wasted.

You do manage a somewhat religious attitude toward your art. It is a calling rather than a job.

I think music is my destiny. I want to commit myself for what God called me to do.

Being a musician is a given for me-I didn't have much choice in the matter.

A writer, or any artist, can’t expect to be embraced by the people [but] you just keep doing your work - because you have to, because it’s your calling.

Writing is a calling, not a choice.

I love music and love a good audience and still have to make a living. Why would I quit?

If you have this passion for music, you don't stop doing it - it chooses you and doesn't release you.

As soon as I touched the mic, I knew that's what I would do for the rest of my life.

I really knew with every fiber of my being that acting was - for lack of a better word - my calling.

If someone decides to be a musician now, it means because there is no hope of money at the end of it, it means they really want to be a musician. And if someone is writing now, there is no hope for money at the end of it.

I have a crazy work ethic. I'll do 20 songs a day. I love music that much.

I'm not very good at a lot of things that aren't music. This is the only thing that I love doing, so, like, why wouldn't I make this my whole life?

I am completely invested in my music - committed to it full time.

My grandmother and my father always said I would end up as a missionary. Well, I feel like I am one now.

The clarinet chose me more than I chose the clarinet.

I devoted my life to music for a reason, and the reason wasn't because I wanted to get on or make money, but to try to fulfil myself and also to give people pleasure. That's been my credo.

I realized I could do music for the sake of music, not the other things that come with it. That was a major shift.

When I started making music, I was like, 'This is something I can believe I was meant to do.'

I've twice been on the point of giving up my performing career to train for the priesthood.

I want everybody to know my name because I feel like I give so much of my heart and my soul in my music.

You know how you have that one thing you would do even if you're not getting paid to do it? That's what writing music is for me.

I think I will never stop working with music; it has become a part of who I am.

The longing to behold this pre-established harmony [of phenomena and theoretical principles] is the source of the inexhaustible patience and perseverance with which Planck has devoted himself ... The state of mind which enables a man to do work of this kind is akin to that of the religious worshiper or the lover; the daily effort comes from no deliberate intention or program, but straight from the heart.

You remember our talk about purpose and meaning?" he asked me, the smile disappearing. "Well, I think this might be mine. I think this is what I was meant to do, Georgina.