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.

Quote by Patti Smith

Topics: Patti Smith Quotes

Rock n' roll is dream soup, what's your brand?

Everyone thinks of God as a man - you can't help it - Santa Claus...

Everyone thinks of God as a man - you can't help it - Santa Claus...

Artists are traditionally resistant to labels.

Artists are traditionally resistant to labels.

I always enjoyed doing transgender songs.

I always enjoyed doing transgender songs.

Let's just say that I think any person who aspires, presumes, or feels the calling...

Let's just say that I think any person who aspires, presumes, or feels the calling...

An artist may have burdens the ordinary citizen doesn't know, but the ordinary citizen has...

An artist may have burdens the ordinary citizen doesn't know, but the ordinary citizen has...

As far as I'm concerned, being any gender is a drag.

As far as I'm concerned, being any gender is a drag.

First of all, anybody who has lasted 30 and went through the 60's is really...

First of all, anybody who has lasted 30 and went through the 60's is really...

An artist is somebody who enters into competition with God.

An artist is somebody who enters into competition with God.

People have the power to redeem the work of fools.

People have the power to redeem the work of fools.

In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with...

In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with...

Americans just don't know what being a movie star's all about.

Americans just don't know what being a movie star's all about.

I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.

I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.

I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very...

I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very...

Besides me wanting to be an artist, I wanted to be a movie star.

Besides me wanting to be an artist, I wanted to be a movie star.

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

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

Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took...

Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took...

I never thought I was gonna live to 30.

I never thought I was gonna live to 30.

Then I read Little Women, and of course, like a lot of really young girls,...

Then I read Little Women, and of course, like a lot of really young girls,...

My sunglasses are like my guitar.

My sunglasses are like my guitar.