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I wanted a monument to myself in granite. I wanted my face…

“I wanted a monument to myself in granite. I wanted my face in seven different colours. I wanted I LOVE YOU in giant red letters on top of the Museum of Modern Art. I wanted a new bridge across the Hudson in my name. I wanted a three-volume history of the Greeks dedicated to my memory. I wanted a…” quote by Carol Emshwiller
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““I wanted a monument to myself in granite. I wanted my face in seven different colours. I wanted I LOVE YOU in giant red letters on top of the Museum of Modern Art. I wanted a new bridge across the Hudson in my name. I wanted a three-volume history of the Greeks dedicated to my memory. I wanted a filmed version of my life in Ektachrome Commercial. I wanted the Mercedes-Benz no longer to be for Mercedes. But I have small breasts.””

Carol Emshwiller

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator lists grand, ego‑driven ambitions, then undercuts them with a self‑deprecating comment about physical appearance.

In simple terms: Huge ego meets personal insecurity.

Key Takeaway

Balance ambition with self‑acceptance.

Themes

ego art insecurity legacy

Mood

wry self‑aware

Type

satirical confessional

When to use this quote

  • career planning
  • artistic expression
  • public persona
  • body image

Key Concepts

psychology art criticism identity

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why juxtapose grandeur with self‑critique?
  • What does this reveal about societal expectations?
A Different Perspective

The humor may mask deeper feelings of inadequacy.

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