--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really don't want somebody writing…" description: "\"I really don't want somebody writing something positive about me if they don't believe in it. I'd rather somebody write something real mean. I like rea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/patti-smith-394_bad-stuff_i-really-don-t-want-somebody-writing-som_3216794.jpg" --- # I really don't want somebody writing something positive… ![“I really don't want somebody writing something positive about me if they don't believe in it. I'd rather somebody write something real mean. I like reading bad stuff, it gets me excited. In fact, the only reviews I keep are the bad ones 'cause I think they're the cool ones.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/patti-smith-394_bad-stuff_i-really-don-t-want-somebody-writing-som_3216794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/patti-smith-394_bad-stuff_i-really-don-t-want-somebody-writing-som_3216794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/patti-smith-394_bad-stuff_i-really-don-t-want-somebody-writing-som_3216794.jpg) > “I really don't want somebody writing something positive about me if they don't believe in it. I'd rather somebody write something real mean. I like reading bad stuff, it gets me excited. In fact, the only reviews I keep are the bad ones 'cause I think they're the cool ones.” [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. People prefer honest, even harsh, criticism over insincere praise; authenticity in feedback is more exciting than flattery. **In simple terms:** Real criticism feels more exciting than fake praise. Key Takeaway Seek genuine feedback, even if it’s harsh. Themes authenticity criticism self‑awareness artistic integrity Mood reflective defiant Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - artist reviews - product feedback - performance evaluations - personal growth - creative collaborations Key Concepts honesty ego creative risk Questions to Reflect On - Do you value honesty over kindness? - How do you handle negative criticism? A Different Perspective Harsh feedback can damage confidence if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-stuff/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Don't believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-believe/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-bad-1447490/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Reviews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reviews/) [Reviews Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reviews-bad-794486/) [Somebody Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-write-362772/) [Something real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-real/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-positive-2784072/) ## Related quotes > [Theres really not much that people can pick on me for my work, so obviously they find other reasons to write something bad about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/theres-really-not-much-that-people-can-pick-on-me-for-my-work-so/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [“Hello to all Goodread fans, only 16 days until my book releases. I hope you are excited as I am! Share your enthusiasm, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusta-dejuan-hathaway/hello-to-all-goodread-fans-only-16-days-until-my-book-releases-i-hope/) [Augusta DeJuan Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusta-dejuan-hathaway/) > [“Are you wondering what to write? Let’s start with some general statements that are useful each and every day. Then we’ll create statements that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-d-snyder/are-you-wondering-what-to-write-let-s-start-with-some-general/) [Peggy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-d-snyder/) > [I very much enjoy writing about positive, direct emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/i-very-much-enjoy-writing-about-positive-direct-emotions/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [Every night for the next week, set aside ten minutes before you go to sleep. Write down three things that went well today and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/every-night-for-the-next-week-set-aside-ten-minutes-before-you-go-to/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Start by writing down ten positive words to describe yourself. Write them on a card - the size of a business card will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-edmonds/start-by-writing-down-ten-positive-words-to-describe-yourself-write/) [Noel Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-edmonds/) > [Memorizing, guessing, looking at pictures, predicting, substituting, and skipping, are not reading; they are very bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/memorizing-guessing-looking-at-pictures-predicting-substituting-and/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [Seeing your name on the list for KP or guard duty when you're in the Army is like reading a bad review.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/seeing-your-name-on-the-list-for-kp-or-guard-duty-when-you-re-in-the/) [Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/) > [“This might be a good time to mention that if you learn about an airborne virus that seems to be killing otherwise healthy young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wright/this-might-be-a-good-time-to-mention-that-if-you-learn-about-an/) [Jennifer Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wright/) > [“Anyone who tells you her life is like a book has either been reading some bad books or is not being straight with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-andersen/anyone-who-tells-you-her-life-is-like-a-book-has-either-been-reading/) [M.J. Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-andersen/) > [Yup, Nicki, looks like Philly got walloped. Then again, niohtng better than a good read to curl up with. You might like my entry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit/yup-nicki-looks-like-philly-got-walloped-then-again-niohtng-better/) [Amit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit/) > [Reading time is precious. Don't waste it. Reading bad books, or books that are wrong for a certain time in your life, can dangerously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/reading-time-is-precious-don-t-waste-it-reading-bad-books-or-books/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [With all of my films if I get one bad review and a bunch of good reviews the bad one is the only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farrelly/with-all-of-my-films-if-i-get-one-bad-review-and-a-bunch-of-good/) [Peter Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farrelly/) > [Writers are funny about reviews: when they get a good one they ignore it-- but when they get a bad review they never forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/writers-are-funny-about-reviews-when-they-get-a-good-one-they-ignore/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [I have always read all my reviews, the bad along with the good (although you remember the bad much more than the good!). I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-spotnitz/i-have-always-read-all-my-reviews-the-bad-along-with-the-good/) [Frank Spotnitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-spotnitz/) ## 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 Bad stuff quotes > [It's very intense to be in front of a live audience. It's just an amazing experience. It's dangerous. Everything out there is heightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-intense-to-be-in-front-of-a-live-audience-it-s-just-an/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Just like the breakthroughs, the bad stuff always takes you by surprise. (121)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-giles/just-like-the-breakthroughs-the-bad-stuff-always-takes-you-by/) [Gail Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-giles/) > [A lot of bad stuff in the world wasn’t really that bad until someone tried to change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/a-lot-of-bad-stuff-in-the-world-wasn-t-really-that-bad-until-someone/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [“Stop focusing on the bad stuff because life is too damn short.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/stop-focusing-on-the-bad-stuff-because-life-is-too-damn-short/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [“It’s like everyone wants the bad stuff to be true because she’s so good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-dew-shostak/it-s-like-everyone-wants-the-bad-stuff-to-be-true-because-she-s-so/) [Kay Dew Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-dew-shostak/) > [If you help them (the crew) create good memories, they'll forget all the bad stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/if-you-help-them-the-crew-create-good-memories-they-ll-forget-all-the/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [Theres really not much that people can pick on me for my work, so obviously they find other reasons to write something bad about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/theres-really-not-much-that-people-can-pick-on-me-for-my-work-so/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I did a lot of bad stuff from the age of 18 to 21. Those are days when everyone is usually in college doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmon-young/i-did-a-lot-of-bad-stuff-from-the-age-of-18-to-21-those-are-days-when/) [Delmon Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmon-young/) > [The problem with me is I read everything, but it's only the bad stuff that stays with me. It's weird, you only need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/the-problem-with-me-is-i-read-everything-but-it-s-only-the-bad-stuff/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [There's good stuff and bad stuff, but you continue on. I'm not prescriptive - I cannot tell anyone else what to do with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/there-s-good-stuff-and-bad-stuff-but-you-continue-on-i-m-not/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [Eventually the bad stuff I'm writing turns into better stuff. Other times, I've just walked away from what I was working on, and figured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/eventually-the-bad-stuff-i-m-writing-turns-into-better-stuff-other/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [When something's painful, you just avoid it. Why bother dredging up the past if it's nothing but bad stuff?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-koyczan/when-something-s-painful-you-just-avoid-it-why-bother-dredging-up-the/) [Shane Koyczan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-koyczan/) > [Some of the material out there - I don't want to say that it's all bad - but there's a lot of bad stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-hernandez/some-of-the-material-out-there-i-don-t-want-to-say-that-it-s-all-bad/) [Jay Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-hernandez/) > [Lack of respect for the worker. This nourishes disconnection, fear, anger, phoniness, and all the bad stuff that impedes excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hallowell/lack-of-respect-for-the-worker-this-nourishes-disconnection-fear/) [Edward Hallowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hallowell/) > [I don't care about people kissing my ass or telling me how great I am. I don't really give a damn. I read the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sherman/i-don-t-care-about-people-kissing-my-ass-or-telling-me-how-great-i-am/) [Richard Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sherman/) [Browse all 116 Bad stuff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-stuff/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really don't want somebody writing something positive about me if they don't believe in it. I'd rather somebody write something real mean. I like reading bad stuff, it gets me excited. 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