--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have vague memories, like impressions…" description: "\"I have vague memories, like impressions on glass plates ...\" — Patti Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/patti-smith-394_glasses_i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-o_2698794.jpg" --- # I have vague memories, like impressions on glass plates ... ![“I have vague memories, like impressions on glass plates ...” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/patti-smith-394_glasses_i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-o_2698794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/patti-smith-394_glasses_i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-o_2698794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/patti-smith-394_glasses_i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-o_2698794.jpg) > “I have vague memories, like impressions on glass plates ...” [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. Memories are fleeting and impressionistic, like images on fragile glass. **In simple terms:** Recall memories as delicate impressions. Key Takeaway Preserve fleeting moments. Themes memory impermanence artistry Mood nostalgic reflective Type artistic poetic When to use this quote - writing - visual arts - archival work - therapy Key Concepts subjective recollection creative expression Questions to Reflect On - Which memories feel most fragile? - How can you capture them? A Different Perspective Memories may distort over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) ## Related quotes > [Promises were a lot like impressions. The second one didn't count for much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/promises-were-a-lot-like-impressions-the-second-one-didn-t-count-for/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [Do you guys like impressions? "Why?" That was Socrates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/do-you-guys-like-impressions-why-that-was-socrates/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [He's a guy's guy, so it pretty much became like the impressions - don't imitate Sean Connery's voice, and things like that. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-west/he-s-a-guy-s-guy-so-it-pretty-much-became-like-the-impressions-don-t/) [Shane West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-west/) > [“Do you genuinely love people? Or at least make an effort to like them? Your first impressions will be made easier and more successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/do-you-genuinely-love-people-or-at-least-make-an-effort-to-like-them/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [I think with most things online, if you treat your audience like friends instead of like Impressions and Clickthrough Percentages and Returns On Investment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-north/i-think-with-most-things-online-if-you-treat-your-audience-like/) [Ryan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-north/) > [Sadly, I have very vague memories of Burma. The family was forced to leave when the generals took over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-strawbridge/sadly-i-have-very-vague-memories-of-burma-the-family-was-forced-to/) [Dick Strawbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-strawbridge/) > [Life is like an overlong drama through which we sit being nagged by the vague memories of having read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/life-is-like-an-overlong-drama-through-which-we-sit-being-nagged-by/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [We have vague memories of the Eighties. But we were still pre-Internet and pre-cell phone for most of our childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/we-have-vague-memories-of-the-eighties-but-we-were-still-pre-internet/) [Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/) > [The actual, original 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,' I have vague memories of because I was pretty small, but I loved, loved, loved it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-whitman/the-actual-original-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-i-have-vague/) [Mae Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-whitman/) > [I only have vague memories of the Radio 1 days because it was quite a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-ball/i-only-have-vague-memories-of-the-radio-1-days-because-it-was-quite-a/) [Zoe Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-ball/) > [Vague memories hang about the mind like cobwebs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/vague-memories-hang-about-the-mind-like-cobwebs/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [From dream to dream and rhyme to rhyme I have ranged / In rambling talk with an image of air: / Vague memories, nothing but memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/from-dream-to-dream-and-rhyme-to-rhyme-i-have-ranged-in-rambling-talk/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [I don't see how it's doing society any good to have so many members walking around with vague memories of algebraic formulas and geometric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/i-don-t-see-how-it-s-doing-society-any-good-to-have-so-many-members/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [History never exactly repeats itself, but it does some rather good impressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/history-never-exactly-repeats-itself-but-it-does-some-rather-good/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) ## 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 Glasses quotes > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Putting on a new pair of glasses or sunglasses is a simple way to completely transform your look - just like a new hairstyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-goreski/putting-on-a-new-pair-of-glasses-or-sunglasses-is-a-simple-way-to/) [Brad Goreski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-goreski/) > [My mom was an enthusiastic, positive, glass-is-half-full type of person and that is how I live my life and I owe that to her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kliff-kingsbury/my-mom-was-an-enthusiastic-positive-glass-is-half-full-type-of-person/) Kliff Kingsbury > [I had always been scared of the unknown, and I think it had a lot to do with a lack of self-confidence (and wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-had-always-been-scared-of-the-unknown-and-i-think-it-had-a-lot-to/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [“Myrna was not astigmatic; the lenses were clear glass; she wore the glasses to prove her dedication and intensity of purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/myrna-was-not-astigmatic-the-lenses-were-clear-glass-she-wore-the/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [I pound on the glass, screaming my head off. Everyone ignores me except for some Capitol attendant who appears behind me and offers me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pound-on-the-glass-screaming-my-head-off-everyone-ignores-me-except/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Beauty's a doubtful good, a glass, a flower, Lost, faded, broken, dead within an hour; And beauty, blemish'd once, for ever's lost, In spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/beauty-s-a-doubtful-good-a-glass-a-flower-lost-faded-broken-dead/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/he-decided-then-that-he-would-love-her-forever-no-matter-what-came-to/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [I decided to lock myself in. A forced segregation. Sabbatical. A retreat into myself. My selves. Play hide and go seek in the looking-glass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/i-decided-to-lock-myself-in-a-forced-segregation-sabbatical-a-retreat/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [I don't see the future as bright, language-wise. I see it as a glass half empty - and evaporating quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/i-don-t-see-the-future-as-bright-language-wise-i-see-it-as-a-glass/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) > [A ship's engine far away on the water expands the summer-night horizon. Both joy and sorrow swell in the dew's magnifying glass. Without really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-transtromer/a-ship-s-engine-far-away-on-the-water-expands-the-summer-night/) [Tomas Transtromer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-transtromer/) > [Keith was just bringing the glass to his lips when Adrian said, "Mmm. O positive, my favorite." Keith sprayed out the wine he'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/keith-was-just-bringing-the-glass-to-his-lips-when-adrian-said-mmm-o/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Photography is space, light, texture, of course, but the really important element is time - that nanosecond when the image organizes itself on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stoller/photography-is-space-light-texture-of-course-but-the-really-important/) Ezra Stoller > [I am out in public and using the phone. I am in a phone booth, got the phone in my hand and a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/i-am-out-in-public-and-using-the-phone-i-am-in-a-phone-booth-got-the/) [Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/) Browse all 2,351 Glasses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have vague memories, like impressions on glass plates ...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patti Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-on-glass-plates/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Glasses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-on-glass-plates/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/patti-smith-394_glasses_i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-o_2698794.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/patti-smith-394_glasses_i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-o_2698794.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/patti-smith-394_glasses_i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-o_2698794.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have vague memories, like impressions on glass plates ...” — Patti Smith", "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": "Patti Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have vague memories, like impressions...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-on-glass-plates/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-have-vague-memories-like-impressions-on-glass-plates/#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 } } ] } ```