--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't stay in one discipline because…" description: "\"I don't stay in one discipline because it's more lucrative than another. In fact, the most successful thing I ever did was 'Just Kids,' for which I had..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/patti-smith-394_absolutely_i-don-t-stay-in-one-discipline-because-i_598908.jpg" --- # I don't stay in one discipline because it's more lucrative… ![“I don't stay in one discipline because it's more lucrative than another. In fact, the most successful thing I ever did was 'Just Kids,' for which I had absolutely no expectations.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/patti-smith-394_absolutely_i-don-t-stay-in-one-discipline-because-i_598908.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/patti-smith-394_absolutely_i-don-t-stay-in-one-discipline-because-i_598908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/patti-smith-394_absolutely_i-don-t-stay-in-one-discipline-because-i_598908.jpg) > “I don't stay in one discipline because it's more lucrative than another. In fact, the most successful thing I ever did was 'Just Kids,' for which I had absolutely no expectations.” [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work thrives on crossing disciplines and embracing unexpected projects without preset expectations. **In simple terms:** Cross disciplines, stay open, avoid expectations. Key Takeaway Embrace interdisciplinary exploration. Themes creativity discipline expectation artistic freedom Mood inspirational reflective Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - music - writing - visual art - collaboration Key Concepts interdisciplinary practice risk taking Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture curiosity across fields? - What expectations limit your creativity? 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They worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-laurel/the-game-business-arose-from-computer-programs-that-were-written-by/) [Brenda Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-laurel/) > [I think if actors are successful at one thing, they paint themselves into a corner sometimes, and what's the fun in that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-think-if-actors-are-successful-at-one-thing-they-paint-themselves/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [We've done exactly what we've wanted. We never compromised to anyone and still managed to have a successful thing. I don't take that lightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-rosenstock/we-ve-done-exactly-what-we-ve-wanted-we-never-compromised-to-anyone/) [Jeff Rosenstock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-rosenstock/) > [There's so many great things that come with being successful. The one thing that is weird is trying to figure out whose intentions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/there-s-so-many-great-things-that-come-with-being-successful-the-one/) [Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/) > [For me, inventing video games was just one successful thing I had done among many others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-h-baer/for-me-inventing-video-games-was-just-one-successful-thing-i-had-done/) [Ralph H. Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-h-baer/) > [“It is not important how successful you are, the only thing that matters is how good a person you are...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vedang-sati/it-is-not-important-how-successful-you-are-the-only-thing-that/) [Vedang Sati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vedang-sati/) > ['Stand and Deliver' has been the most successful thing I have done in my life. So many people have seen it. There was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/stand-and-deliver-has-been-the-most-successful-thing-i-have-done-in/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [If you lie to the whole WORLD its GOOD If you want to become successful Then do only one thing NEVER LIE TO YOURSELF](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/if-you-lie-to-the-whole-world-its-good-if-you-want-to-become/) [Rajat Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/) > [There are 1000 ways of becoming successful but only one thing gets you there: hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tlali-p-lebitsa/there-are-1000-ways-of-becoming-successful-but-only-one-thing-gets/) [Tlali P Lebitsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tlali-p-lebitsa/) > [To be successful, the first thing to do is to fall in love with your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sister-mary-lauretta/to-be-successful-the-first-thing-to-do-is-to-fall-in-love-with-your/) [Sister Mary Lauretta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sister-mary-lauretta/) > [I believe there's a strong difference between something being good and something being successful. The successful thing is something we have no control over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-warchus/i-believe-there-s-a-strong-difference-between-something-being-good/) [Matthew Warchus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-warchus/) > ['Grease' is the most successful thing I've ever been part of. It spans generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-avalon/grease-is-the-most-successful-thing-i-ve-ever-been-part-of-it-spans/) [Frankie Avalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-avalon/) > [“managers hire great people was a far more lucrative”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-adler/managers-hire-great-people-was-a-far-more-lucrative/) [Lou Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-adler/) > [When in some communities selling drugs is so lucrative that that's a pretty big enticement that we have to break down. Part of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/when-in-some-communities-selling-drugs-is-so-lucrative-that-that-s-a/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [For my first gig, I got $75. I could make money being funny, so I pursued it as a career and have turned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/for-my-first-gig-i-got-75-i-could-make-money-being-funny-so-i-pursued/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) ## More by Patti Smith > [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Inside it he inscribed a few lines of poetry, portraying us as the gypsy and the fool, one creating silence; one listening closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/inside-it-he-inscribed-a-few-lines-of-poetry-portraying-us-as-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/who-can-know-the-heart-of-youth-but-youth-itself/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“I clawed through a thick web of the culture’s consciousness that I hadn’t known existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-clawed-through-a-thick-web-of-the-culture-s-consciousness-that-i/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm certain, as we filled down the great staircase, that I appeared the same as ever, a moping twelve years-old, all arms and legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-certain-as-we-filled-down-the-great-staircase-that-i-appeared-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/in-art-and-dream-may-you-proceed-with-abandon-in-life-may-you-proceed/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [New York is the thing that seduced me. New York is the thing that formed me. New York is the thing that deformed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-york-is-the-thing-that-seduced-me-new-york-is-the-thing-that/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-think-i-m-constantly-in-a-state-of-adjustment/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took over and I started getting very involved with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/somehow-i-started-introducing-writing-into-my-drawings-and-after-a/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm okay with roaming around the world in my bunk for days on end. Maybe every third day I'll get a shower or stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-okay-with-roaming-around-the-world-in-my-bunk-for-days-on-end/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) [Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More Absolutely quotes > [I am absolutely my own biggest critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/i-am-absolutely-my-own-biggest-critic/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) > [I was brought up by the English side of my family, who are very repressed and working class. Absolutely lovely, but very English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-was-brought-up-by-the-english-side-of-my-family-who-are-very/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [“None is absolutely true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-z-lavine/none-is-absolutely-true/) [T.Z. Lavine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-z-lavine/) > [The game business arose from computer programs that were written by and for young men in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-laurel/the-game-business-arose-from-computer-programs-that-were-written-by/) [Brenda Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-laurel/) > [If I was a man, I would be a drag queen. Honestly, I would. I absolutely love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/if-i-was-a-man-i-would-be-a-drag-queen-honestly-i-would-i-absolutely/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [There's very little about being in a functional-M.R.I. scanner that is natural: you are flat on your back, absolutely still, with your head immobilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/there-s-very-little-about-being-in-a-functional-m-r-i-scanner-that-is/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) > [I'm absolutely an Elizabeth Taylor fan!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-m-absolutely-an-elizabeth-taylor-fan/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [You can absolutely be what you can't see! 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He will remain to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-dourif/chucky-is-absolutely-still-a-puppet-he-will-remain-to-be/) [Fiona Dourif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-dourif/) [Browse all 1,136 Absolutely quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutely/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't stay in one discipline because it's more lucrative than another. 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