--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we got to the part where we had to…" description: "\"When we got to the part where we had to improvise an argument in a poetic language, I got cold feet. \"I can't do this,\" I said. \"I don't know what to s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/patti-smith-394_argument_when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to_1590247.jpg" --- # When we got to the part where we had to improvise an… ![“When we got to the part where we had to improvise an argument in a poetic language, I got cold feet. "I can't do this," I said. "I don't know what to say." "Say anything," he said. "You can't make a mistake when you improvise." "What if I mess it up? What if I screw up the rhythm?" "You can't," he…” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/patti-smith-394_argument_when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to_1590247.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/patti-smith-394_argument_when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to_1590247.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/patti-smith-394_argument_when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to_1590247.jpg) > “When we got to the part where we had to improvise an argument in a poetic language, I got cold feet. "I can't do this," I said. "I don't know what to say." "Say anything," he said. "You can't make a mistake when you improvise." "What if I mess it up? What if I screw up the rhythm?" "You can't," he said. "It's like drumming. If you miss a beat, you create another." In this simple exchange, Sam taught me the secret of improvisation, one that I have accessed my whole life.” [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. Improvisation thrives on embracing mistakes; each error creates new rhythm, turning fear into creative flow. **In simple terms:** Mistakes become new beats. Key Takeaway Embrace errors as creative opportunities. Themes creativity confidence improvisation learning Mood inspired hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - live performances - public speaking - creative writing - musical jam sessions Key Concepts flow theory psychology of risk Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from a mistake in real time? - How does risk reshape your creative process? A Different Perspective Fear of failure can still inhibit spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-feet/) [Drumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drumming/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Got Improvise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-improvise-875109/) [Improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisation/) [Improvisation Accessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisation-accessed-6025712/) [Improvise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvise/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Improvise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-improvise-5705097/) [Poetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetic/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Say anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-anything/) [Screw ups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screw-ups/) [Screws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screws/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Secret Improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-improvisation-6025711/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [What if](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-if/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [You can't make a mistake when you improvise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/you-can-t-make-a-mistake-when-you-improvise/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [See, that's the thing: I'm not one of those actors who thinks, 'God, I've got to improvise and make it my own.' No, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-harris/see-that-s-the-thing-i-m-not-one-of-those-actors-who-thinks-god-i-ve/) [Rachael Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-harris/) > [Many a man has walked up to the opportunity for which he has long been preparing himself, looked it full in the face, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/many-a-man-has-walked-up-to-the-opportunity-for-which-he-has-long/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [I had been offered other shows, before 'Meri Awaaz...' but honestly, the very thought of long and grueling working hours of TV shows gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-rao/i-had-been-offered-other-shows-before-meri-awaaz-but-honestly-the/) [Amrita Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-rao/) > [She the shit, She the one. She got cold feet, my love will be the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/she-the-shit-she-the-one-she-got-cold-feet-my-love-will-be-the-sun/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [“Before I was born she had bought herself a new home health care book. It was large and expensive, and it was a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/before-i-was-born-she-had-bought-herself-a-new-home-health-care-book/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Pull yourself together, Detective. You're embarrassing yourself, and more imprtant, you're embarrassing me." "They're going to do it outside. In public." "So the fuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/pull-yourself-together-detective-you-re-embarrassing-yourself-and/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [When I first got back from the war, I said, 'I'm gonna write the Great American Novel about the Vietnam War.' 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This is written with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/this-is-from-a-tribute-poem-to-ronnie-james-dio-former-lead-vocalist/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [What was great about 'Cold Feet' is that although it flew off down all different avenues, it was really based on believing the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-baxendale/what-was-great-about-cold-feet-is-that-although-it-flew-off-down-all/) [Helen Baxendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-baxendale/) > [“My grandfather once told her if you couldn't read with cold feet, there wouldn't be a literate soul in the state of Maine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-grandfather-once-told-her-if-you-couldn-t-read-with-cold-feet/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“You are gone silence screams in my ears I have cold feet Stepping out of my bed that morning was the hardest thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakshi-narula/you-are-gone-silence-screams-in-my-ears-i-have-cold-feet-stepping-out/) [Sakshi Narula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakshi-narula/) ## 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. 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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 Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. 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What if I screw up the rhythm?\" \"You can't,\" he said. \"It's like drumming. If you miss a beat, you create another.\" In this simple exchange, Sam taught me the secret of improvisation, one that I have accessed my whole life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patti Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to-improvise-an-argument-in-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Argument" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to-improvise-an-argument-in-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/patti-smith-394_argument_when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to_1590247.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/patti-smith-394_argument_when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to_1590247.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/patti-smith-394_argument_when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to_1590247.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we got to the part where we had to improvise an argument in a poetic language, I got cold feet. \"I…” — 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": "When we got to the part...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to-improvise-an-argument-in-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/when-we-got-to-the-part-where-we-had-to-improvise-an-argument-in-a/#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 } } ] } ```