I am still a very optimistic person. I continue to do work with joy. Patti Smith continuejoyoptimistic Change image and share on social
I didn't love Jim Morrison 'cause he was self-destructive. I loved him because of his work. Because of the way he merged poetry and rock-and-roll. Because he did something new. Patti Smith destructivejimlove Change image and share on social
I was never a singer; I can't play any instruments; I had no training. Plus, I was brought up in a time when all the great rock stars were male. I didn't have any template for what I was doing. I did what I did out of frustration and concern. Patti Smith bringconcernfrustration share on social
I was in musical comedy. And I did very well, but the memorization killed me. I'm not good at memorizing, and it gave me a lot of anxiety. I hated the makeup. I hated all that pancake makeup. I didn't really like dressing for parts. Patti Smith anxietycomedydress share on social
I was a sickly child, not very strong physically. I wasn't really the greatest in school. I didn't really excel in anything particularly. But I was happy with who I was. Patti Smith childexcelgreat Change image and share on social
When I was a child, I was certain that I could remember what it was like to live on Venus; I could remember what it was like to live in the American Plains. I could remember. And it's ancient memory. We all have it. It's just that some of us access it more than others. Patti Smith accessamericanancient share on social
I personally am not interested in people trying to pigeonhole me. Patti Smith interestpeoplepersonally Change image and share on social
Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine. Patti Smith diejesusmine Change image and share on social
I would rather write or record something great and have it overlooked than do mediocre work and have it be popular. Patti Smith greatmediocreoverlook Change image and share on social
Robert Mapplethorpe asked me to write our story the day before he died. I had never written a book of nonfiction, and so it took me almost two decades to write that book. Patti Smith askbookday Change image and share on social
