Skip to content

Child Quote by Patti Smith

“Spare the child and spoil the rod, I am not sellin' myself to god.” quote by Patti Smith
Download Open image
“Spare the child and spoil the rod, I am not sellin' myself to god.”

Patti Smith

About This Quote

Source Song: "Spare the Child" (lyrics), 1978

Balancing discipline and compassion; the speaker resists being exploited while maintaining moral standards.

In simple terms: Don’t let yourself be used, but stay kind.

Key Takeaway

Set boundaries while keeping empathy.

Themes

discipline compassion integrity

Mood

defiant hopeful

Type

motivational ethical

When to use this quote

  • parenting
  • workplace
  • relationships
  • self‑care

Key Concepts

ethical dilemmas personal autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you protect yourself without becoming harsh?
  • When is it okay to compromise?
A Different Perspective

Hard to maintain balance when pressures mount.

2.8 out of 5 (8 ratings)

More by Patti Smith

Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes

More Child quotes

Browse all 10,700 Child quotes