How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Almost Famous.
Quote #4
PENNY LANE: We are not groupies. Groupies sleep with rock stars because they want to be near someone famous. We are here because of the music, we inspire the music. We are Band Aids.
The first thing we learn about Penny Lane is that she is no groupie—she is a Band Aid. She is firm in this conviction and confident in her identity—which, like William's, is firmly grounded in her love of rock and roll.
Quote #5
LESTER: Don't let those swill merchants rewrite you.
Lester, as resident life coach and rock guru, warns William not to lose his identity. The big rock stars and the big rock magazines will try to influence William, he says. But it is William's obligation—to the music and to himself—to stay strong.
Quote #6
PENNY: I always tell the girls, never take it seriously. If you never take it seriously, you never get hurt; if you never get hurt, you always have fun; and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.
Life lessons from Penny Lane?
If only she could follow her own advice. She does end up taking things seriously, and she does end up getting hurt. William and Russell make the same mistake. But, of course, it's not really a mistake—if you never take things seriously, you've got nothing to lose… but you've got nothing to gain, either. Sometimes life hurts, and if you never get hurt, you're probably not really living.