--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people think I'm a mythical genius…" description: "\"Some people think I'm a mythical genius, others think I'm a junkie madman.\" — Keith Richards" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/keith-richards-1996_genius_some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius_2366684.png" --- # Some people think I'm a mythical genius, others think I'm… ![“Some people think I'm a mythical genius, others think I'm a junkie madman.” quote by Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/keith-richards-1996_genius_some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius_2366684.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/keith-richards-1996_genius_some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius_2366684.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/keith-richards-1996_genius_some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius_2366684.png) > “Some people think I'm a mythical genius, others think I'm a junkie madman.” [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public perception swings between mythic genius and chaotic junkie, reflecting complex identity. **In simple terms:** People see me as genius or junkie. Key Takeaway Embrace multifaceted identity. Themes identity public image creativity Mood introspective defiant Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - media interviews - artistic branding - personal narrative Key Concepts psychology celebrity culture Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance public myth and personal truth? - Can embracing contradictions fuel creativity? A Different Perspective Labels can limit understanding of true self. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Junkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junkie/) [Junkie Madman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junkie-madman-5814934/) [Madman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madman/) [Madmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madmen/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Mythical Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mythical-genius-5814935/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Think Junkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-junkie-1324722/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I don't care if people think I'm a junkie or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-drozd/i-don-t-care-if-people-think-i-m-a-junkie-or-a-loser/) [Steven Drozd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-drozd/) > [“let me put on my Sherlock Holmes deer-stalker hat and think why else a junkie might be shivering!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-grimsley/let-me-put-on-my-sherlock-holmes-deer-stalker-hat-and-think-why-else/) [Paul Grimsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-grimsley/) > [And what is an authentic madman? It is a man who preferred to become mad, in the socially accepted sense of the word, rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/and-what-is-an-authentic-madman-it-is-a-man-who-preferred-to-become/) [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) > [Love is a madman, working his wild schemes, tearing off his clothes, running through the mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/love-is-a-madman-working-his-wild-schemes-tearing-off-his-clothes/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Look at you, you madman! Screaming you are thirsty and dying in a desert, when all around you there is nothing but water!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/look-at-you-you-madman-screaming-you-are-thirsty-and-dying-in-a/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [Only a madman would give good for evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/only-a-madman-would-give-good-for-evil/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“I had heard that madmen have unnatural strength. And as I knew I was a madman, at times anyhow, I resolved to use my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/i-had-heard-that-madmen-have-unnatural-strength-and-as-i-knew-i-was-a/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [The madman is the man who has lost everything except his reason...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-madman-is-the-man-who-has-lost-everything-except-his-reason/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who hides his madman, dies voiceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-michaux/he-who-hides-his-madman-dies-voiceless/) [Henri Michaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-michaux/) > [I could easily blast so much keef night and day I become a bouhali; a real-gone crazy, a holy untouchable madman unto whom everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brion-gysin/i-could-easily-blast-so-much-keef-night-and-day-i-become-a-bouhali-a/) [Brion Gysin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brion-gysin/) > [The fellow is either a madman or a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/the-fellow-is-either-a-madman-or-a-poet/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Someone like myself, who claimed to be a real madman, living and organized with a Pythagorean precision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/someone-like-myself-who-claimed-to-be-a-real-madman-living-and/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-a-madman-were-to-come-into-this-room-with-a-stick-in-his-hand-no/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Oh yes! The one man in the world who never believes he's mad is the madman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/oh-yes-the-one-man-in-the-world-who-never-believes-he-s-mad-is-the/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More by Keith Richards > [“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/when-you-are-growing-up-there-are-two-institutional-places-that/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“Wild Horses" started in a B-minor chord, and Stu didn't play minor chords, "fucking Chinese music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/wild-horses-started-in-a-b-minor-chord-and-stu-didn-t-play-minor/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“And you listen to some of that meticulous Mozart stuff and Vivaldi and you realize that they knew that too. They knew when to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/and-you-listen-to-some-of-that-meticulous-mozart-stuff-and-vivaldi/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Everybody's got a different way of telling a story - and has different stories to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/everybody-s-got-a-different-way-of-telling-a-story-and-has-different/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Let me be clear about this. I don't have a drug problem. I have a police problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/let-me-be-clear-about-this-i-don-t-have-a-drug-problem-i-have-a/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [It's called the mysterious rhythm of life, ... I can't quite account for it. It's probably an addiction, quite honestly. I need that shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/it-s-called-the-mysterious-rhythm-of-life-i-can-t-quite-account-for/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I never thought I was wasted, but I probably was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-never-thought-i-was-wasted-but-i-probably-was/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I don't encourage anybody to do what I do, you know? Why should you? More for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-don-t-encourage-anybody-to-do-what-i-do-you-know-why-should-you/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [The idea of retiring is like killing yourself. It's almost like Hari Kari. I intend to live to a 100 and go down in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/the-idea-of-retiring-is-like-killing-yourself-it-s-almost-like-hari/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“La gente me pregunta "por qué no lo dejas?". El hecho es que no me puedo retirar hasta que no estire la pata. Creo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/la-gente-me-pregunta-por-qu-no-lo-dejas-el-hecho-es-que-no-me-puedo/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis. Zoom, glorious Technicolor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/before-elvis-everything-was-in-black-and-white-then-came-elvis-zoom/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [There's no substitute for live work to keep a band together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/there-s-no-substitute-for-live-work-to-keep-a-band-together/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [But I've always felt very comfortable on stage, even if I screw up. It always felt like a dog, this is my turf, piss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/but-i-ve-always-felt-very-comfortable-on-stage-even-if-i-screw-up-it/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I'm not getting old I'm evolving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-m-not-getting-old-i-m-evolving/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I'm an unpure purist, something like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-m-an-unpure-purist-something-like-that/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) [Explore all 190 Keith Richards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) ## More Genius quotes > [“If people fully understand you, they will think of you as a normal, if they half understand you, will think of you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-people-fully-understand-you-they-will-think-of-you-as-a-normal-if/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Never try to judge any one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/never-try-to-judge-any-one/) [Rajat Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/) > [“genius is a path that we can all take and derive much benefit, happiness, fulfillment, and success from...not a genetic windfall or divine gift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/genius-is-a-path-that-we-can-all-take-and-derive-much-benefit/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) [Browse all 5,125 Genius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people think I'm a mythical genius, others think I'm a junkie madman.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keith Richards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius-others-think-i-m-a-junkie/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Genius" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius-others-think-i-m-a-junkie/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/keith-richards-1996_genius_some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius_2366684.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/keith-richards-1996_genius_some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius_2366684.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/keith-richards-1996_genius_some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius_2366684.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some people think I'm a mythical genius, others think I'm a junkie madman.” — Keith Richards", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Keith Richards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some people think I'm a mythical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius-others-think-i-m-a-junkie/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/some-people-think-i-m-a-mythical-genius-others-think-i-m-a-junkie/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```