--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patti, did art get us?' I looked away…" description: "\"Patti, did art get us?' I looked away, not really wanting to think about it. 'I don't know, Robert. I don't know.' Perhaps it did, but no one could reg..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/patti-smith-394_art_patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-r_987555.jpg" --- # Patti, did art get us?' I looked away, not really wanting… ![“Patti, did art get us?' I looked away, not really wanting to think about it. 'I don't know, Robert. I don't know.' Perhaps it did, but no one could regret that. Only a fool would regret being had by art; or a saint.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/patti-smith-394_art_patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-r_987555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/patti-smith-394_art_patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-r_987555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/patti-smith-394_art_patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-r_987555.jpg) > “Patti, did art get us?' I looked away, not really wanting to think about it. 'I don't know, Robert. I don't know.' Perhaps it did, but no one could regret that. Only a fool would regret being had by art; or a saint.” [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. Art can be a catalyst for change, but its impact is uncertain; regret over art is foolish. **In simple terms:** Art may change us, but regret is foolish. Key Takeaway Embrace art without fear of regret. Themes art uncertainty regret Mood introspective thoughtful Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - creative block - relationship conflict - personal growth - career decision Key Concepts existentialism creativity philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Can you identify a moment art changed you? - What fears hold you back from creating? A Different Perspective Art's influence varies per individual. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Art cannot be looked at as an elite, sacred event anymore. It has to be embraced as an accessible, popular form, which is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-paulus/art-cannot-be-looked-at-as-an-elite-sacred-event-anymore-it-has-to-be/) [Diane Paulus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-paulus/) > [I have had a wonderful life. I have never regretted what I did. I regret things I didn't do. All my life I've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bergman/i-have-had-a-wonderful-life-i-have-never-regretted-what-i-did-i/) [Ingrid Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bergman/) > [I had no regrets when I did it, I have even less regret now because I can't imagine staying on the West Wing show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-had-no-regrets-when-i-did-it-i-have-even-less-regret-now-because-i/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“Its better to regrets what you did, than regret what you didn't do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nolan/its-better-to-regrets-what-you-did-than-regret-what-you-didn-t-do/) William Nolan > [My ex-wife, she really didn't like the material that I did. And that's something I regret, that I wasn't more careful about making sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/my-ex-wife-she-really-didn-t-like-the-material-that-i-did-and-that-s/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [“When people grow old and look back on their lives, they don't regret what they did, they regret what they didn't do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-caraganis-jakobson/when-people-grow-old-and-look-back-on-their-lives-they-don-t-regret/) Joan Caraganis Jakobson > [Do what you want, if it is something you did regret the next day, sleep in late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/do-what-you-want-if-it-is-something-you-did-regret-the-next-day-sleep/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [Did she ever regret her choices? Were her decisions more clear-cut than mine - or are there always shades of gray whe it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/did-she-ever-regret-her-choices-were-her-decisions-more-clear-cut/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I'd rather regret something I did than regret not doing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-regret-something-i-did-than-regret-not-doing-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have every regret to wht I did to you and every regret leads to love but I cant have you back becoz u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolas-sixx/i-have-every-regret-to-wht-i-did-to-you-and-every-regret-leads-to/) [NIKOLAS SIXX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolas-sixx/) > [“That night, when you kissed me, I thought you did it because you were drinking. All I could focus on was getting you home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melyssa-winchester/that-night-when-you-kissed-me-i-thought-you-did-it-because-you-were/) [Melyssa Winchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melyssa-winchester/) > [“Sawyer reached out and twirled a strand of my hair around his finger. “Even if I was wrong to take you without a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/sawyer-reached-out-and-twirled-a-strand-of-my-hair-around-his-finger/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [“I was wrong when I said that I did not regret the past. I do regret it; I weep for that past love which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-was-wrong-when-i-said-that-i-did-not-regret-the-past-i-do-regret-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Regrets are for the weak. Don't regret for something you did, regret for something you didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessel-jane-zozobrado/regrets-are-for-the-weak-don-t-regret-for-something-you-did-regret/) [Jessel Jane Zozobrado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessel-jane-zozobrado/) > [What you regret is what you let,and what you did is what you regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzie-ann/what-you-regret-is-what-you-let-and-what-you-did-is-what-you-regret/) [Kenzie-ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzie-ann/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Patti, did art get us?' I looked away, not really wanting to think about it. 'I don't know, Robert. I don't know.' Perhaps it did, but no one could regret that. Only a fool would regret being had by art; or a saint.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patti Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-really-wanting-to-think-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-really-wanting-to-think-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/patti-smith-394_art_patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-r_987555.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/patti-smith-394_art_patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-r_987555.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/patti-smith-394_art_patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-r_987555.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Patti, did art get us?' I looked away, not really wanting to think about it. 'I don't know, Robert. I don't…” — 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": "Patti, did art get us?' I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-really-wanting-to-think-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-really-wanting-to-think-about/#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 } } ] } ```