--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We never had any children,\" he said…" description: "\"We never had any children,\" he said ruefully. \"Our work was our children.\" — Patti Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/patti-smith-394_child_we-never-had-any-children-he-said-rueful_3048404.jpg" --- # We never had any children," he said ruefully. "Our work… ![“We never had any children," he said ruefully. "Our work was our children.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/patti-smith-394_child_we-never-had-any-children-he-said-rueful_3048404.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/patti-smith-394_child_we-never-had-any-children-he-said-rueful_3048404.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/patti-smith-394_child_we-never-had-any-children-he-said-rueful_3048404.jpg) > “We never had any children," he said ruefully. "Our work was our children.” [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. He laments childless work life, treating his labor as his offspring, reflecting on purpose and legacy. **In simple terms:** Work is his children. Key Takeaway Find meaning beyond work. Themes work legacy purpose loneliness reflection Mood reflective poetic melancholic Type artistic existential When to use this quote - career planning - personal fulfillment - creative expression - social commentary Key Concepts Existential purpose work‑life balance Questions to Reflect On - What gives life meaning beyond work? - How can one create a legacy outside of career? A Different Perspective Work alone may not satisfy deeper needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-said-724133/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Ruefully Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruefully-work-5059166/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Ruefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-ruefully-5059165/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-children-450335/) ## Related quotes > [My father had nine children, and when I had my first, he said, 'None of my kids got up in the middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemarie-dewitt/my-father-had-nine-children-and-when-i-had-my-first-he-said-none-of/) [Rosemarie DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemarie-dewitt/) > [“I could give you children,” said Jack, sounding faintly affronted. “You’d have to tell me how many heads you wanted them to have, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/i-could-give-you-children-said-jack-sounding-faintly-affronted-you-d/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [The Olinka girls do not believe girls should be educated. 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I said why if this is the result.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ball/i-asked-him-if-he-had-bothered-to-have-children-he-said-yes-he-had/) [Jesse Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ball/) ## 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. 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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. 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