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Quotes by

Patti Smith

What I really like is an intelligent review. It doesnt have to be positive. A review that has some kind of insight, and sometimes people say something thats startling or is so poignant. – Patti Smith

When I was younger, I felt it was my duty to wake people up. I thought poetry was asleep. I thought rock n roll was asleep. – Patti Smith

I came into music because I thought the presentation of poetry wasnt vibrant enough. So I merged improvised poetry with basic rock chords. – Patti Smith

What I wanted to do in rock n roll was merge poetry with sonic scapes, and the two people who had contributed so much to that were Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison. – Patti Smith

My mom loved rock n roll. My father hated it. We couldnt play it when he was around. – Patti Smith

Good news doesnt necessarily have to be a positive thing. Bringing good news is imparting hope to ones fellow man. – Patti Smith

To me, punk rock is the freedom to create, freedom to be successful, freedom to not be successful, freedom to be who you are. Its freedom. – Patti Smith

From very early on in my childhood – four, five years old – I felt alien to the human race. I felt very comfortable with thinking I was from another planet, because I felt disconnected – I was very tall and skinny, and I didnt look like anybody else, I didnt even look like any member of my family. – Patti Smith

I dont think the Palestinian people or Afghan children or some other things Im concerned about are at the top of other peoples agendas – not right now, when America is going through such a recession and people are suffering across the board financially. But I think all that will change. – Patti Smith

Ive always looked the same. Since I was a child, I hated having to deal with my hair. I hated having to change my clothes. As a kid, I had a sailor shirt and the same old corduroy pants, and thats what I wanted to wear everyday. – Patti Smith

Im not saying I wasnt flawed or amateurish. But you can never say I did anything to appease the music business. – Patti Smith

Then I read Little Women, and of course, like a lot of really young girls, I was very taken with Jo – Jo being the writer and the misfit. – Patti Smith

The idea of redemption is always good news, even if it means sacrifice or some difficult times. – Patti Smith

No, my work does not reflect my sexual preferences, it reflects the fact that I feel total freedom as an artist. – Patti Smith

The new artists coming through were very materialistic and Hollywood, not so engaged in communication. – Patti Smith

In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth. – Patti Smith