42 Bob Dylan Quotes to Inspire You

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Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and visual artist who has been a major figure in popular culture for more than five decades. His most notable works include hits like “Blowin’ In The Wind”, “Like A Rolling Stone”, and “The Times They Are A-Changin'”. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 125 million records worldwide. Dylan has received numerous awards throughout his career, including 11 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. He has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Name Bob Dylan
Genre Folk, Rock, Blues
Instruments Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Keyboard
Date of Birth May 24, 1941
Labels Columbia, Asylum, Island
Awards Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, Pulitzer Prize
Albums The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks

10 Best Bob Dylan Quotes

10 Best Bob Dylan Quotes

“A lot of people are still hungry and have no place to sleep. I don’t think we’re living in a time of peace and brotherhood.”

– Bob Dylan, from Rolling Stone

“A song is like a dream, and you try to make it come true. They’re like strange countries that you have to enter.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Telegraph

“I’m not a political songwriter, but if I had to be I think I could be.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

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

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“I’m not an encyclopedia. I don’t know all the answers.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“I don’t like to analyze myself too much. I don’t like to talk about what I’m doing.”

– Bob Dylan, from The New York Times

“Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“It’s not about how many songs you can write. It’s about writing the best songs you can.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“I don’t know how to explain it, but I always felt different from other people.”

– Bob Dylan, from The New York Times

6 Inspirational Bob Dylan Quotes

6 Inspirational Bob Dylan Quotes

“A person is a success if they get up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.”

– Bob Dylan, from Rolling Stone

“You can’t be wise and in love at the same time.”

– Bob Dylan, from Rolling Stone

“The only thing I can do is to be me, whoever that is.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Telegraph

“I still believe that people are capable of doing what’s right.”

– Bob Dylan, from Vulture

“I’m working on something that’s closer to the bone, more truthful.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Telegraph

“I don’t think of myself as a prophet or a savior.”

– Bob Dylan, from The New York Times

6 Famous Bob Dylan Quotes

6 Famous Bob Dylan Quotes

“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.”

– Bob Dylan, from Brainy Quote

“I don’t want to be a leader. I just want to be me.”

– Bob Dylan, from Goodreads

“I don’t think the human mind can comprehend the past and the future. They are both just illusions that can manipulate you into thinking theres some kind of change.”

– Bob Dylan, from AZ Quotes

“The only thing I’m obsessed with is music.”

– Bob Dylan, from AZ Quotes

“I don’t want to be a prophet or a savior. Elvis maybe. I could handle that.”

– Bob Dylan, from Goodreads

“Somebody said time passes quicker the older you get. The older I get, the faster it goes.”

– Bob Dylan, from AZ Quotes

7 Bob Dylan Quotes About Love

7 Bob Dylan Quotes About Love

“Love is just a four-letter word, and there’s a million more.”

– Bob Dylan, from NPR

“I think the best way to be in love is to forget that you’re in love.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Telegraph

“Love is like a cigarette; it burns you up.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Telegraph

“Love is a many splendored thing and it’s very hard to define.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“Love is just a passing moment. It’s here and then it’s gone.”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“Sometimes you have to be careful when you love someone. They may love you back too much.”

– Bob Dylan, from Rolling Stone

“When you’re in love, you can’t sleep at night. Everything else is alright.”

– Bob Dylan, from Rolling Stone

8 Bob Dylan Quotes About Life

8 Bob Dylan Quotes About Life

“A person is a success if they get up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do”

– Bob Dylan, from Rolling Stone

“Life is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs, but it’s your choice to scream or enjoy the ride”

– Bob Dylan, from YouTube

“You learn from a conglomeration of the incredible past and you make it into something of your own. That’s what it’s all about”

– Bob Dylan, from NPR

“There is nothing so stable as change”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“You just keep on moving forward, no matter what”

– Bob Dylan, from Rolling Stone

“There’s no success like failure and failure’s no success at all”

– Bob Dylan, from The Guardian

“Sometimes you have to go back and realize that you can move forward”

– Bob Dylan, from YouTube

“Life is a hard teacher, it gives you the test before it teaches you the lesson”

– Bob Dylan, from NPR

5 Quotes About Bob Dylan

5 Quotes About Bob Dylan

“Bob Dylan is a great artist and he is the one of the best songwriters ever.”

– Paul McCartney, from The Guardian

“Bob Dylan is one of the most important songwriters of the 20th century.”

– Bruce Springsteen, from Rolling Stone

“Bob Dylan is a poet, a prophet, and a seer.”

– Patti Smith, from The Guardian

“Bob Dylan is an artist who has kept on going and growing.”

– Neil Young, from The Guardian

“Bob Dylan has a deep and vast knowledge of American music.”

– Tom Petty, from The Guardian

Interview with Bob Dylan

Frequently Asked Questions About Bob Dylan

1. What is the most famous Bob Dylan quote?

One of the most iconic and memorable Bob Dylan quotes is “The times, they are a-changin'”. This quote is a call to arms for people to become actively involved in the changing times and not to be complacent in the face of change. It was originally featured in his 1964 song of the same name and has since become an important and oft-used slogan for progressive causes.

Other popular Bob Dylan quotes include:

  • “A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.”
  • “I define nothing. Not beauty, not patriotism. I take each thing as it is, without prior rules about what it should be.”
  • “People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.”
  • “It’s not dark yet, but it’s gettin’ there.”

2. What is the Oldest Bob Dylan Quote?

The oldest Bob Dylan quote dates back to 1962 and is from the song “Blowin’ in the Wind.” The quote is, “How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?” This powerful line is a reflection on how a person is judged and how much they must go through before they truly earn respect.

This quote is an example of the profound thought that Dylan often put into his songs. It speaks to the difficulties and trials that a person must go through and the level of respect that one must earn in order to gain recognition.

Other notable quotes from Bob Dylan include:

  • “The times they are a-changin'” – 1964
  • “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” – 1963
  • “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind” – 1962
  • “The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity” – 1962
  • “I’ll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours” – 1964
  • “To live outside the law, you must be honest” – 1966

3. What is the most inspirational Bob Dylan quote?

Bob Dylan has been a source of inspiration for generations. He has written and performed some of the most powerful and memorable lyrics of all time. From his early folk-rock anthems to his later works, Dylan has always been an artist that speaks to the heart. Here are some of his most inspiring quotes:

  • “There is nothing so stable as change.”
  • “He not busy being born is busy dying.”
  • “When you cease to exist, then who will you blame?”
  • “A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.”
  • “The times they are a-changin’.”
  • “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.”
  • “People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.”
  • “Everything passes. Everything changes. Just do what you think you should do.”
  • “When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose.”

Out of all of Bob Dylan’s inspirational quotes, the one that stands out the most is “People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.” This quote is a powerful reminder that we should always strive to do what we believe in, no matter how difficult it may be. It is a reminder that we should never settle for the easy way out, but instead push ourselves to do what we know is right.

4. How often does Bob Dylan create new quotes?

Bob Dylan is a prolific writer, singer, and artist. He has created many memorable and inspiring quotes over the years from his songs, interviews, and other work. As he continues to write and perform, he often comes up with new and thought-provoking quotes.

It is difficult to determine exactly how often Bob Dylan creates new quotes, as he is constantly writing, recording, and performing. However, he does make an effort to share his thoughts and ideas with fans through his music, interviews, and other forms of media. For example, he recently released a book titled The Lyrics: 1961-2012, which contains over 400 of his most famous lyrics and quotes. He also regularly shares new quotes on his social media accounts, as well as in interviews and other public appearances.

In general, Bob Dylan creates new quotes every few days or weeks, depending on his current activities. If he is working on a new album or appearing in public, he is likely to come up with some new and inspiring quotes. Fans can also stay up to date with his latest quotes by following him on social media or subscribing to his newsletter.

5. What is the Most Controversial Bob Dylan Quote?

Bob Dylan has been an influential figure for decades, and his words have been quoted in many contexts and by many people. However, some of his quotes are more controversial than others. Here is a look at some of the most controversial Bob Dylan quotes:

  • “When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose”
  • “If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying”
  • “People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent”
  • “Money doesn’t talk, it swears”
  • “He not busy being born is busy dying”
  • “To live outside the law, you must be honest”
  • “The times they are a-changin'”
  • “The government is a tool of the people — not the other way around”
  • “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”

The most controversial Bob Dylan quote is probably “To live outside the law, you must be honest”, which implies that breaking the law is acceptable as long as it is done with honesty and integrity. This quote has been interpreted in many ways, but it is often seen as a call for civil disobedience or anarchy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bob Dylan is undoubtedly one of the greatest artists of all time. His profound lyrics and iconic songs have influenced generations of musicians and fans alike. His quotes are as timeless and relevant today as they were when he first said them. Bob Dylan has left an indelible mark on the music industry and will continue to inspire and influence both musicians and fans for generations to come.

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