Even as a child, I knew what I didn't want. I didn't want to wear red lipstick. Patti Smith childknowlipstick Change image and share on social
An artist may have burdens the ordinary citizen doesn't know, but the ordinary citizen has burdens that many artists never even touch. Patti Smith artistburdencitizen Change image and share on social
Some of us are born rebellious. Like Jean Genet or Arthur Rimbaud, I roam these mean streets like a villain, a vagabond, an outcast, scavenging for the scraps that may perchance plummet off humanity's dirty plates, though often sometimes taking a cab to a restaurant is more convenient. Patti Smith arthurbearcab share on social
In the '60s, I used to love rock magazines; I'd cut out pictures of Bob Dylan and John Lennon. Patti Smith 60sbobcut Change image and share on social
Sometimes you're doing really well, then, after three or four years, everything inexplicably crashes like a house of cards and you have to rebuild it. It's not like you get to a point where you're all right for the rest of your life. Patti Smith cardcrashhouse share on social
I had this idea that the coolest thing that could happen to you was talking with God. My father was always talking about God, and I idolized my father, so I'd spend hours trying to have mental telepathy with God. Patti Smith coolfathergod share on social
Throughout my life, I happily deferred to family, companions, children. Patti Smith childcompaniondefer Change image and share on social
Besides me wanting to be an artist, I wanted to be a movie star. Patti Smith artistmoviestar Change image and share on social
The Bible is very resonant. It has everything: creation, betrayal, lust, poetry, prophecy, sacrifice. All great things are in the Bible, and all great writers have drawn from it and more than people realise, whether Shakespeare, Herman Melville or Bob Dylan. Patti Smith betrayalbiblebob share on social
My siblings were a bit younger than me, and I was always entertaining them and making up stories. Patti Smith biteentertainmake Change image and share on social
