--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I refuse to believe that Hendrix had the…" description: "\"I refuse to believe that Hendrix had the last possessed hand, that Joplin had the last drunken throat, that Morrison had the last enlightened mind.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/patti-smith-394_believe_i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the_753751.jpg" --- # I refuse to believe that Hendrix had the last possessed… ![“I refuse to believe that Hendrix had the last possessed hand, that Joplin had the last drunken throat, that Morrison had the last enlightened mind.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/patti-smith-394_believe_i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the_753751.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/patti-smith-394_believe_i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the_753751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/patti-smith-394_believe_i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the_753751.jpg) > “I refuse to believe that Hendrix had the last possessed hand, that Joplin had the last drunken throat, that Morrison had the last enlightened mind.” [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. She rejects the notion that any single artist holds the ultimate creative authority, emphasizing ongoing artistic evolution. **In simple terms:** No one artist has the final word on creativity. Key Takeaway Celebrate diverse artistic voices. Themes creativity legacy artistic evolution Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - music criticism - creative writing - education Key Concepts cultural impact musical history personal expression Questions to Reflect On - Which artists inspire you? - How do you nurture your own creativity? A Different Perspective Focusing on one legend can limit perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-hendrix-5859156/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hendrix/) [Hendrix Possessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hendrix-possessed-5859155/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Possessed Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessed-hand-5859157/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuse Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-believe-250765/) [Throat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throat/) ## Related quotes > [What I wanted to do in rock 'n roll was merge poetry with sonic scapes, and the two people who had contributed so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/what-i-wanted-to-do-in-rock-n-roll-was-merge-poetry-with-sonic-scapes/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [ “\[Jimi Hendrix\] dreamed of amassing musicians from all over the world in Woodstock and they would sit in a field in a circle and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/jimi-hendrix-dreamed-of-amassing-musicians-from-all-over-the-world-in/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Music television is all about the media-oriented version of what it is to be a rock star; it's not about what Bob Dylan or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/music-television-is-all-about-the-media-oriented-version-of-what-it/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In 1974, when I started working with the material that became 'Horses,' a lot of our great voices had died. We'd lost Jimi Hendrix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/in-1974-when-i-started-working-with-the-material-that-became-horses-a/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“since the order of the world is shaped by death, mightn't it be better for God if we refuse to believe in Him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/since-the-order-of-the-world-is-shaped-by-death-mightn-t-it-be-better/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [If you Refuse to believe in yourself who else would believe in you? Just Refuse to lose, Only loser don't try. Try it yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trezy-camp/if-you-refuse-to-believe-in-yourself-who-else-would-believe-in-you/) [Trezy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trezy-camp/) > [I'm sorry, I refuse to believe that love is at random.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-york/i-m-sorry-i-refuse-to-believe-that-love-is-at-random/) [Charlotte York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-york/) > [You know, it's a sad and unfortunate state of affairs that you have to live in a world where eight-year-olds refuse to believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/you-know-it-s-a-sad-and-unfortunate-state-of-affairs-that-you-have-to/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [“For those who want to believe, no proof is ever required. For those who refuse to believe, no proof is ever enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/for-those-who-want-to-believe-no-proof-is-ever-required-for-those-who/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [One great mistake made by intelligent people is to refuse to believe that the world is as stupid as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-great-mistake-made-by-intelligent-people-is-to-refuse-to-believe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I refuse to believe that I am a better actor than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/but-i-refuse-to-believe-that-i-am-a-better-actor-than-myself/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [“Though they have not the capacity to reply, I refuse to believe that our pets have no comprehension”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-masello/though-they-have-not-the-capacity-to-reply-i-refuse-to-believe-that/) [Robert Masello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-masello/) > [“That's the way with civilized men. When they can't explain something by their half-baked science, they refuse to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/that-s-the-way-with-civilized-men-when-they-can-t-explain-something/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“And you refuse to believe in unidentified flying objects”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/canibus/and-you-refuse-to-believe-in-unidentified-flying-objects/) [Canibus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/canibus/) > [“Amazement of something in front of your eyes, which is so strong that it makes you refuse to believe it. A refusal to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandar-tomov/amazement-of-something-in-front-of-your-eyes-which-is-so-strong-that/) [Alexandar Tomov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandar-tomov/) ## 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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I refuse to believe that Hendrix had the last possessed hand, that Joplin had the last drunken throat, that Morrison had the last enlightened mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patti Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the-last-possessed-hand-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the-last-possessed-hand-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/patti-smith-394_believe_i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the_753751.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/patti-smith-394_believe_i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the_753751.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/patti-smith-394_believe_i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the_753751.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I refuse to believe that Hendrix had the last possessed hand, that Joplin had the last drunken throat, that…” — 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 refuse to believe that Hendrix...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the-last-possessed-hand-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-refuse-to-believe-that-hendrix-had-the-last-possessed-hand-that/#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 } } ] } ```