By subscribing to Inspiring Quotes you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Pratt Institute’s class of 2010 had a kindred spirit in their commencement speaker. Punk troubadour Patti Smith was about the Brooklyn art school graduates’ age in 1967 when, like them, she moved to New York City to be an artist. Smith succeeded by refusing to confine herself to a single medium and by interlacing her work with activism. Today, she’s a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an award-winning author, and a visual artist whose drawings, silkscreens, and photographs have been exhibited on three continents. Yet her humble (and humorous) parting advice underscores the importance of pure motives. “[Pace] the floor because your muse is burning inside of you,” she said. “You don’t want to be pacing because you need a damn root canal.”
19 Quotes To Keep You Hopeful
10 Quotes From People Who’ve Survived Tragedy
Read These Quotes in the Morning To Kick-Start Your Best Day Yet
12 Quotes on Staying Flexible and Open-Minded
Inspiring Snippets From Abraham Lincoln’s Most Memorable Speeches
15 Quotes To Send To Long-Distance Friends
Quotes To Help You Live a More Spontaneous Life
Quotes for Anyone Who Isn't Where They Want To Be in Life
15 Quotes About the Joys of Gift-Giving
The Oldest Jokes in History
Quotes From Famous Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom