Grace Slick Quotes

Powerful Grace Slick for Daily Growth

About Grace Slick

Grace Slick, born Grace Barnett Wing on October 30, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois, is an iconic figure in American rock music as a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Her unique voice, distinctive style, and unconventional lyrics made her a significant force in the psychedelic rock scene of the 1960s and beyond. Slick attended the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago, where she studied fine arts and graphic design before moving to San Francisco in 1963. It was there that she joined the Great Society band as a singer and co-wrote some of their most notable songs like 'Somebody to Love' and 'Don't Stop.' In 1967, Slick joined Jefferson Airplane, replacing Signe Anderson as the lead vocalist. With Jefferson Airplane, she contributed to their groundbreaking album "Surrealistic Pillow," which included hits such as 'White Rabbit,' a psychedelic interpretation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. After leaving Jefferson Airplane in 1970, Slick formed the band Starship with some members of Jefferson Starship (a renamed version of Jefferson Airplane). The band achieved international success with their number-one hit 'We Built This City.' Throughout her career, Grace Slick's songs were often influenced by social and political issues, as well as personal experiences. Her powerful voice, captivating stage presence, and thought-provoking lyrics cemented her place in rock history. Slick's enduring legacy continues to inspire musicians today. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice—once with Jefferson Airplane in 1996 and again with Starship in 2016.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"When you're in a band, you can be just as silly as you want to be."

This quote by Grace Slick highlights the freedom that comes with being part of a band or any creative group. It suggests that one can let go of inhibitions and express themselves playfully and creatively, as the environment encourages silliness, experimentation, and self-expression. Essentially, it underscores the idea that the artistic process can be enjoyable and less constrained by societal norms compared to other aspects of life.


"Don't attempt to be two people, because you won't be happy unless you're yourself."

Grace Slick's quote encourages individuality and authenticity. It suggests that trying to be someone else or conforming to multiple roles can lead to unhappiness and lack of fulfillment. Instead, one should embrace their unique self to achieve happiness and contentment in life.


"I'm not a witch, I'm not a bitch, I'm not a hitchhiker, I'm not a fixer-upper, and I'm definitely not a groupie!"

This quote by Grace Slick is a clear assertion of her individuality and self-worth. She's refuting stereotypes often associated with women in music, such as being labeled a 'witch', 'bitch', or a groupie. She emphasizes that she isn't seeking attention or looking to be fixed or improved upon by others. This quote is empowering and demonstrates Grace Slick's strength and independence as a female artist in the male-dominated music industry.


"The only thing that counts is what you do with your own life."

This quote emphasizes self-empowerment and personal responsibility. It suggests that an individual's actions, experiences, and achievements within their own life are the most important aspects of their existence. In other words, rather than focusing on external factors or what others do, one should concentrate on making a positive impact with their own life choices and actions.


"Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday."

This quote, by Grace Slick, highlights the human tendency to worry excessively about the future, yet when the future becomes today, we often find ourselves adapting and dealing with it in ways we might not have anticipated. It serves as a reminder that tomorrow, no matter how much we fret about it, will always arrive as today, implying the importance of living in the present moment while maintaining perspective on our concerns for the future.


There is an attitude that we should be able to have everything. No, you shouldn't be able to have anything. I'd like a helicopter, but I can't afford a helicopter, so I don't buy one. People are buying stuff they can't afford on credit. I bought my Ford hybrid with cash.

- Grace Slick

Helicopter, Anything, Buy, Ford

'Vegetarian' is a slippery word. I don't eat cheese, I don't eat duck - the point is I'm vegan.

- Grace Slick

Vegetarian, Eat, Vegan, Duck

'Feminist comedy,' practically an oxymoron, had a couple of good years after WWII. Chalk it up to the forced female autonomy that occurred during wartime, when Rosie the Riveter went to work in the factories, constructing the Allies' war machines while taking charge of the finances, the home, and the children.

- Grace Slick

Couple, Oxymoron, Forced, Autonomy

I like being in a recording studio. I like watching a song go from the simplicity of the original music.

- Grace Slick

Song, Original, Studio, Original Music

The way I paint is similar to rock in that you don't stand around and say, 'Gee, what are they talking about?' Rock is simple, blunt, colorful. Same with my paintings. You don't stand back and wonder what it is. That's Jim Morrison, that's a panda, that's a scene on the West Coast. It's not abstract.

- Grace Slick

Paint, Gee, About, Jim

You either evolve or you don't. I don't like old people on a rock n' roll stage. I think they look pathetic, me included. And the fact that I represent an era means I can't just go out there and do all new stuff. They would all say, 'Sing 'White Rabbit,' and I'd say no? That's rude.

- Grace Slick

Fact, I Think, Roll, Rabbit

If I were gay, life would be a lot simpler. I'm kind of annoyed that I'm not.

- Grace Slick

Lot, Would, Were, Simpler

Prancing around on stage is not the entire purpose of my life.

- Grace Slick

Purpose, My Life, Stage, Prancing

The word 'success' - who's defining it? It's about whether or not it makes me feel good. Four billion people don't have to see or hear it. If I've enjoyed the process of creation and I'm at peace, then what happens next is just entertainment. If mass appeal were actually something, Marilyn Monroe wouldn't be dead.

- Grace Slick

Next, Entertainment, Mass, Defining

'White Rabbit' was mostly done in about two days, the music in about half an hour. The music is a 'Bolero' rip-off and the lyrics a rearrangement of 'Alice in Wonderland.' You take two spectacular hits and throw them together, and it's hard to miss.

- Grace Slick

About, Mostly, Half, Rip-Off

I don't want to see old people doing rap or rock and roll. It makes me cringe.

- Grace Slick

Rock And Roll, Doing, Rap, Old People

I think old people are scary. They remind you of your own death. People don't like to tell you that.

- Grace Slick

Death, Think, I Think, Old People

Old people should be heard but not seen. Young people should be seen, not heard.

- Grace Slick

Young, Young People, Old, Old People

Through your life, most people peel away the junk that's not useful, that's superfluous. You are determined to peel that away. I do one thing at a time. One man at a time. One car. One house. One child. One job.

- Grace Slick

Through, Away, One Thing, Superfluous

Woodstock is well known because this country is so hyped on amount. It was big. Half a million people doesn't necessarily mean something is good. It just means it's big.

- Grace Slick

Big, Country, Means, Hyped

I find it amusing on one level, poignant on another, when people try to get recognition from an outside source. It's sad.

- Grace Slick

Recognition, Level, Another, Poignant

I fall down all the time because I'm such a klutz, but I have never broken a bone, and I don't eat milk or cheese ever. I like tofu cheese and soymilk in my coffee and cereal.

- Grace Slick

Broken, Milk, Like, Cereal

God is all over the place. And even if He isn't, if it makes me feel good, why not?

- Grace Slick

Feel, Over, Makes, Why Not

I am not strict vegan, because I'm a hedonist pig. If I see a big chocolate cake that is made with eggs, I'll have it.

- Grace Slick

Big, Eggs, Made, Chocolate Cake

I like Daughtry, I like Nickelback, I like Dave Matthews. I like Beyonce - she's a really good entertainer.

- Grace Slick

She, Like, Dave, None

My deal is that I pay more attention to whatever job I have than the relationships I have. Now, if I had considered my job to be a wife and mother, then I would have been pretty good at it. But I didn't consider it a job. I thought it was like brushing your teeth - it's not fun, it's just something you do to keep your teeth from falling out.

- Grace Slick

Thought, Deal, Been, Brushing

People ask me why I don't paint oils. It takes too long. Cleaning brushes in linseed oil, and it takes six months to really dry, and all this. I don't have that kind of time. I work with acrylic. It's water based. You can clean it under water. If you spill it on yourself, you just throw it in the washing machine.

- Grace Slick

Long, Why, Paint, Oils

Starship was a whole different thing. It was pop rock. It made more money and had more hit songs than Airplane. There was no cultural or social ethic behind it. For me, it was like selling out. I was the only one selling out. The rest enjoyed doing what they were doing.

- Grace Slick

Doing, Behind, Whole, Starship

Some of us don't want to be a housewife. When you live alone, you can do anything you want to do anytime you want. I really like it.

- Grace Slick

Want, Some, Like, Housewife

Through literacy you can begin to see the universe. Through music you can reach anybody. Between the two there is you, unstoppable.

- Grace Slick

Literacy, Through, See, Unstoppable

Applause is interesting, but I'm a monster with or without it. Something is either well written or it isn't. 'White Rabbit' is not well written, and no amount of applause or royalties can convince me it is. I could have done a better job with those lyrics. They didn't say what I wanted.

- Grace Slick

White, Without, Either, Better Job

Too many people try to please their parents. My parents were Republicans, which is too bad, but they allowed me to be who I wanted to be.

- Grace Slick

Bad, Republicans, Which, Too Many People

Jerry Garcia used to take his paints on the road. I don't do that. Either I'm a singer or a painter. I'm not good at multi-tasking.

- Grace Slick

Good, Singer, Used, Paints

In school, I learned about artists and how they were free to express themselves. I was allergic to conformity, and the lifestyle attracted me. I wanted to express myself in a way that slammed people up against the wall.

- Grace Slick

Against, Learned, Slammed, Conformity

Woodstock - I didn't see anybody play, except when I was standing backstage waiting to go on, because it was so muddy. And the weather was so horrible, you literally couldn't get there except by helicopter.

- Grace Slick

Waiting, Play, Anybody, Backstage

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