--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a critic. I'm not a journalist…" description: "\"I'm not a critic. I'm not a journalist. I'm not a philosopher. Arguing that punk has run its course is like saying painting ran its course after the Re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a64/patti-smith-394_arguing_i-m-not-a-critic-i-m-not-a-journalist-i_2171891.jpg" --- # I'm not a critic. I'm not a journalist. I'm not a… ![“I'm not a critic. I'm not a journalist. I'm not a philosopher. Arguing that punk has run its course is like saying painting ran its course after the Renaissance. Punk is an idea. It's freedom. And it'll be around 200 years from now for the people who want it.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a64/patti-smith-394_arguing_i-m-not-a-critic-i-m-not-a-journalist-i_2171891.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a64/patti-smith-394_arguing_i-m-not-a-critic-i-m-not-a-journalist-i_2171891.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a64/patti-smith-394_arguing_i-m-not-a-critic-i-m-not-a-journalist-i_2171891.jpg) > “I'm not a critic. I'm not a journalist. I'm not a philosopher. Arguing that punk has run its course is like saying painting ran its course after the Renaissance. Punk is an idea. It's freedom. And it'll be around 200 years from now for the people who want it.” [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. Punk embodies enduring freedom, persisting beyond trends like Renaissance painting. **In simple terms:** Punk is lasting freedom. Key Takeaway Embrace and protect freedom. Themes freedom culture longevity Mood defiant optimistic Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - music scenes - political activism - art movements - subcultural identity Key Concepts counterculturalism ideology Questions to Reflect On - How can punk stay true to its roots? - What does freedom mean today? A Different Perspective Punk may be co-opted by mainstream, diluting its radical edge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punk/) [Renaissance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renaissance/) [Run Its Course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-its-course/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I'm old-fashioned. I think William Blake and people in the Renaissance people were multi. Look at da Vinci, he was involved in science; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-old-fashioned-i-think-william-blake-and-people-in-the-renaissance/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The Shield had run its course as a three-man group, and we'll go down in history as one of the greatest factions of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/the-shield-had-run-its-course-as-a-three-man-group-and-we-ll-go-down/) [Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/) > [“Generally, a mood will run its course in an inteligent man; if a woman doesn't puncture it prematurely, the man will puncture it himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/generally-a-mood-will-run-its-course-in-an-inteligent-man-if-a-woman/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [Don't try to stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/don-t-try-to-stop-the-foreclosure-process-let-it-run-its-course-and/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I'm not really good at hiding pain or taking something and transforming it into something good. When those things come along, I really try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-hall/i-m-not-really-good-at-hiding-pain-or-taking-something-and/) [Trevor Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-hall/) > [Margaret Thatcher drove us like there was no tomorrow. But I think there is a genuine feeling now that this macho, workaholic, earn lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwina-currie/margaret-thatcher-drove-us-like-there-was-no-tomorrow-but-i-think/) [Edwina Currie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwina-currie/) > [The show had run its course on the Fox network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-arnett/the-show-had-run-its-course-on-the-fox-network/) [Will Arnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-arnett/) > [“The Brown Coast" "Not long after the affair had run its course, Bob and his wife were driving to town when Vicky looked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wells-tower/the-brown-coast-not-long-after-the-affair-had-run-its-course-bob-and/) [Wells Tower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wells-tower/) > [“true love cannot begin until the in-love experience has run its course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/true-love-cannot-begin-until-the-in-love-experience-has-run-its-course/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“Grief isn't a luxury; it's an appropriate response to loss. You don't just will it away. If you allow it to run its course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/grief-isn-t-a-luxury-it-s-an-appropriate-response-to-loss-you-don-t/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“You know your relationship has run its course when, despite any feelings you may still harbour, it just is not worth the heartache anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-k-p-o-neill/you-know-your-relationship-has-run-its-course-when-despite-any/) [Shane K.P. O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-k-p-o-neill/) > [We should not speak of one that prospers well As happy, till his life have run its course, And reached its goal. An evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/we-should-not-speak-of-one-that-prospers-well-as-happy-till-his-life/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“…he is invariably a kind of super-size but unmistakably ‘classical’ neurotic, an aberrant who only occasionally, and never deeply, wishes to surrender his aberration;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/he-is-invariably-a-kind-of-super-size-but-unmistakably-classical/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“Or the Japanese may go in an entirely different direction—an interesting possibility, given that the West itself has now begun to question whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-smith/or-the-japanese-may-go-in-an-entirely-different-direction-an/) Patrick Smith > [“allegations involve fiddling with the books of his failed 2012 election campaign, crooked financial dealing in connection with a Pakistani arms contract and assorted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/allegations-involve-fiddling-with-the-books-of-his-failed-2012/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not a critic. I'm not a journalist. I'm not a philosopher. Arguing that punk has run its course is like saying painting ran its course after the Renaissance. Punk is an idea. It's freedom. 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