By the time I was 10 or 11, I was completely demoralized. I thought, "I'm done. I'm never going to be a missionary," because my indiscretion column, whether it was little lies or stealing a Chunky bar, kept me from sainthood.
Patti SmithI reflected on the fact that no matter how good I aspired to be, I was never going to achieve perfection
Patti SmithI never really wanted to be a singer - not with any longevity. But I always wanted to be a writer.
Patti SmithNew generations are intoxicated with the idea that they can make their presence known on the Internet. When I was young, there wasn't anything comparable. Very few got their picture in a magazine, fewer made records. We have to stand back and let them get their footing. Hopefully they'll come to the realization that the most important thing is their work and how they conduct themselves.
Patti Smith