Peter Bichsel Quotes

Everyone expects me to do certain things.

What's the point if you make something that's not you, and you're successful? You have to perform it the rest of your life.

They had me doing Beach Boys remakes and all that. I was basically a marionette.

Dylan doesn't have to make Blonde On Blonde every time.

People will always blame the poets for society's ills. But these are the true artists.

I think the most dangerous word in the English language is 'should.' 'I should have done this.' Or 'I should do that.' 'Should' implies responsibility. It connotes demand. Which is just not the case. Life ebbs and flows.

You always try to work for your audience, to entertain them, but that being said, obviously, within the studio system you feel the sense of responsibility to the bank.

I would hear stories about Steve Jobs and feel like he was at 100 percent exactly what he wanted to do, but I'm sure even a Steve Jobs has compromised. Even a Rick Owens has compromised. You know, even a Kanye West has compromised. Sometimes you don't even know when you're being compromised till after the fact, and that's what you regret.

A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable. The pressure of ideas would simply drive it frantic.

What I had heard about TV is that it's very rigid - that you have to hit your mark, look a certain way, do certain things, that there is no freedom artistically - and that's my worst nightmare. I don't work well in rigid environments.

I like all kinds of music. But I would rather people stop caring about lines.

If you think about what everyone else will think, you forget to just make music.

When I'm in the studio, I'm very cautious about it because if there's one thing that can destroy music being made, it's any sort of agenda, expectation and/or schedule, or any of that.

I don't feel pressure to act like other people or rap like other people, because I just can't.

With a label, pressure is added. Being independent, you don't feel a lot of pressure.

Playing the piano was what I loved doing for myself, but as soon as it became a 'thing' that I was being pushed to pursue by my teachers, I rebelled.

I hate the term black sheep, but I just felt like I wasn't keeping up. It was a subtle pressure I put on myself.

Don't think about making art.

The marriage vow is an absurdity imposed by society.

Well, the best part about stand-up is that you control everything. Period. When you work in movies, or on TV shows, there are 50 other people involved. And it's hard, man. They brainwash you to think you're doing the right thing.

I was valedictorian. Did I enjoy going to school? I hated it. It wasn't a choice on my part, it was expected.

This thing in society that you have to be a stick will always be in my mind, but that's just something I have to deal with.

If you want to look like the people next door, you're probably smothering yourself into your dreams.

You can't be creative and still be a good girl.

If you have the expectation that I have to be a certain way, then I feel the obligation to be that way. The truth is I am not what you want me to be.