Contemporary scientific research is competitive, costly and coupled to the parallel universe of commerce. A Faustian bargain between scientists and politicians allows the funding to flow. There is another path: to slow down, think and experiment without the pressure of competition and frequent publication. That path will come at a cost: reduced funding for people and equipment. The article compares and contrasts the most creative musical and visual artists with the current scientific model. I suggest that science requires acceptance that true creativity can only come by decoupling from current commercial and political imperatives.