--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Washington Square, one could still…" description: "\"“In Washington Square, one could still feel the characters of Henry James and the presence of the author himself. Entering the perimeters of the white ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/patti-smith-394_acoustic-guitar_in-washington-square-one-could-still-fee_3112879.jpg" --- # In Washington Square, one could still feel the characters… ![“In Washington Square, one could still feel the characters of Henry James and the presence of the author himself. Entering the perimeters of the white arch, one was greeted by the sounds of bongos and acoustic guitars, protest singers, political arguments, activists leafleting, older chess players…” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/patti-smith-394_acoustic-guitar_in-washington-square-one-could-still-fee_3112879.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/patti-smith-394_acoustic-guitar_in-washington-square-one-could-still-fee_3112879.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/patti-smith-394_acoustic-guitar_in-washington-square-one-could-still-fee_3112879.jpg) > ““In Washington Square, one could still feel the characters of Henry James and the presence of the author himself. Entering the perimeters of the white arch, one was greeted by the sounds of bongos and acoustic guitars, protest singers, political arguments, activists leafleting, older chess players challenged by the young. This open atmosphere was something I had not experienced, simple freedom that did not seem to be oppressive to anyone.”” [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. The square feels alive with artistic and political energy, offering a non‑oppressive freedom that blends past literary ghosts with present voices. **In simple terms:** A vibrant, free atmosphere mixes art, politics, and community. Key Takeaway Embrace open, creative spaces. Themes art politics community freedom history Mood enerivated reflective Type observational descriptive When to use this quote - visiting historic districts - attending street performances - engaging in community activism - playing chess in public parks Key Concepts cultural heritage public space social interaction Questions to Reflect On - How does public art shape community identity? - What role does history play in modern urban spaces? A Different Perspective May the freedom feel superficial or exclusionary for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acoustic guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustic-guitar/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [New york city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york-city/) [Political arguments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-arguments/) ## Related quotes > [“The city was a real city, shifty and sexual. I was lightly jostled by small herds of flushed young sailors looking for action on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/the-city-was-a-real-city-shifty-and-sexual-i-was-lightly-jostled-by/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Harvard Square could feel like a party on a warm night, full of energy and privilege and promise. Or it could seem like one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/harvard-square-could-feel-like-a-party-on-a-warm-night-full-of-energy/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“The ideal of quiet and of genteel retirement, in 1835, was found in Washington Square, where the Doctor built himself a handsome, modern, wide-fronted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/the-ideal-of-quiet-and-of-genteel-retirement-in-1835-was-found-in/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [I actually walk through Washington Square Park a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jon-benjamin/i-actually-walk-through-washington-square-park-a-lot/) [H. Jon Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jon-benjamin/) > [In my work, you get used to criticisms. Of course you do, because there are a lot of people trying to get you down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/in-my-work-you-get-used-to-criticisms-of-course-you-do-because-there/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [To complete the rout of traditionalists, in America an impression began to arise that the new industrial and acquisitive interests are the conservative interest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/to-complete-the-rout-of-traditionalists-in-america-an-impression/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [ “I sensed that if I were ever to meet \[Senator Orrin\] Hatch face-to-face there would be little that we could agree upon. There was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-jimenez/i-sensed-that-if-i-were-ever-to-meet-senator-orrin-hatch-face-to-face/) [Guillermo Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-jimenez/) > [“Will it matter In 100 years who was right and who was wrong in our political arguments in our great nation? What will matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/will-it-matter-in-100-years-who-was-right-and-who-was-wrong-in-our/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [My main contribution was to demolish the myths that India couldn't economically afford nuclear weapons. Of course I made these political arguments too, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/my-main-contribution-was-to-demolish-the-myths-that-india-couldn-t/) [Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/) > [“In just a few weeks, Soldier 13 became aware of a mutation in the colors of his consciousness. As the theoretical classes were filling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-padura-fuentes/in-just-a-few-weeks-soldier-13-became-aware-of-a-mutation-in-the/) Leonardo Padura Fuentes > [Red lines are kind of political arguments that are used to try to put people in a corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/red-lines-are-kind-of-political-arguments-that-are-used-to-try-to-put/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [In the French culture, they talk politics. I didn't find it was part of our culture to have political arguments at the table. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-raver/in-the-french-culture-they-talk-politics-i-didn-t-find-it-was-part-of/) [Kim Raver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-raver/) > [“The social intuitionist model offers an explanation of why moral and political arguments are so frustrating: because moral reasons are the tail wagged by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/the-social-intuitionist-model-offers-an-explanation-of-why-moral-and/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [I think it's always dangerous to make political arguments in a religiously ideological way. And it's very dangerous to treat as traitors to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/i-think-it-s-always-dangerous-to-make-political-arguments-in-a/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) > [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/) ## 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 Acoustic guitar quotes > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [One thing I really hate about people who play both acoustic and electric is if they try to play electric style on an acoustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/one-thing-i-really-hate-about-people-who-play-both-acoustic-and/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [Much of the music I remember from camp was unofficial: the songs a counselor would play for us on acoustic guitar or that an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/much-of-the-music-i-remember-from-camp-was-unofficial-the-songs-a/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [My first synthesizer was the VCS3. I got it in Bristol in the late Sixties, long before Pink Floyd used them. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-jarre/my-first-synthesizer-was-the-vcs3-i-got-it-in-bristol-in-the-late/) [Jean-Michel Jarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-jarre/) > [“Other freshmen were already moving into their dormitory rooms when we arrived, with their parents helping haul. I saw boxes of paperbacks, stereo equipment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/other-freshmen-were-already-moving-into-their-dormitory-rooms-when-we/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [My first review in NOW Magazine - I played one machine, so I went to a soloist night, where everyone else played acoustic guitar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peaches/my-first-review-in-now-magazine-i-played-one-machine-so-i-went-to-a/) [Peaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peaches/) > [I collect as many acoustic guitars as I need for a specific purpose. Acoustic guitars are really just tools for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-collect-as-many-acoustic-guitars-as-i-need-for-a-specific-purpose/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I practice on the acoustic guitar a little bit, but I think I have reached the peak of my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-practice-on-the-acoustic-guitar-a-little-bit-but-i-think-i-have/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [When we did the 'Skin and Bones' tour I didn't even own an acoustic guitar, I had to borrow one from my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/when-we-did-the-skin-and-bones-tour-i-didn-t-even-own-an-acoustic/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [It all started in a local park in El Paso called Madeleine Park. At a ditch, a very small ditch, that everybody used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-bixler-zavala/it-all-started-in-a-local-park-in-el-paso-called-madeleine-park-at-a/) [Cedric Bixler-Zavala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-bixler-zavala/) > ['Flying In A Blue Dream' was quite automatic. I was working on another song, and I took a break and picked up my acoustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/flying-in-a-blue-dream-was-quite-automatic-i-was-working-on-another/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [In certain ways I still feel like I'm finding my way. I feel pretty comfortable playing acoustic guitar and singing, but then I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hay/in-certain-ways-i-still-feel-like-i-m-finding-my-way-i-feel-pretty/) [Colin Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hay/) > [One of the signature things about Heart was the acoustic guitar in a rock format, which you didn't hear that often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/one-of-the-signature-things-about-heart-was-the-acoustic-guitar-in-a/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [My stuff was more of a folk coffeehouse thing, with more acoustic guitar, just me doing a single, and then adding on instruments and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hicks/my-stuff-was-more-of-a-folk-coffeehouse-thing-with-more-acoustic/) [Dan Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hicks/) [Browse all 174 Acoustic guitar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustic-guitar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In Washington Square, one could still feel the characters of Henry James and the presence of the author himself. 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