--- title: "24 People Quotes By M.I.A" description: "24 People quotes by M.I.A. Plus more from M.I.A and more People sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/m-i-a-3418_art_instead-of-going-to-war-we-should-put-th_3197776.jpg" --- > [Instead of going to war, we should put the money into arts and culture and let creative people define what Britain is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/instead-of-going-to-war-we-should-put-the-money-into-arts-and-culture/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/m-i-a-3418_art_instead-of-going-to-war-we-should-put-th_3197776.jpg) > [My giving birth was nothing when I think about all the people in Sri Lanka that have to give birth in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-giving-birth-was-nothing-when-i-think-about-all-the-people-in-sri/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/m-i-a-3418_about_my-giving-birth-was-nothing-when-i-think_774552.jpg) > [That's what's inspiring to me - finding someplace where people haven't already seen themselves in a certain light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-s-inspiring-to-me-finding-someplace-where-people-haven-t/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/m-i-a-3418_certain_that-s-what-s-inspiring-to-me-finding-so_3213069.jpg) > [I don't intentionally go: 'Ooh, what is provocative,' and try to do that. I just do stuff, and people go: 'Ooh, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-intentionally-go-ooh-what-is-provocative-and-try-to-do-that-i/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/m-i-a-3418_go_i-don-t-intentionally-go-ooh-what-is-pro_760493.jpg) > [That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-have-real-art-happen-in-an/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/m-i-a-3418_art_that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-h_293578.jpg) > [I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-always-a-question-mark-i-leave/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/m-i-a-3418_load_i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-a_329887.jpg) > [I remember taking my demo to every dance person in London. People were like, 'We don't know what this is!' The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-remember-taking-my-demo-to-every-dance-person-in-london-people-were/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/m-i-a-3418_champion_i-remember-taking-my-demo-to-every-dance_1305236.jpg) > [I feel so terrible for the kids now. In London, even people in their forties can't afford to buy a house or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-so-terrible-for-the-kids-now-in-london-even-people-in-their/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/m-i-a-3418_feels_i-feel-so-terrible-for-the-kids-now-in-l_1170294.jpg) > [ In the beginning \[of my career\] I definitely felt a responsibility because I was representing a bunch of people \[Sri lankans\] who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-the-beginning-of-my-career-i-definitely-felt-a-responsibility/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/m-i-a-3418_blah_in-the-beginning-of-my-career-i-definite_2045146.jpg) > [I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-that-you-have-to-teach-people-in/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/m-i-a-3418_achieve_i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-tha_91120.jpg) > [If you're talking about coexisting and tolerance then you have to live by example, and you can't have shiny people all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/if-you-re-talking-about-coexisting-and-tolerance-then-you-have-to/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/m-i-a-3418_live-by_if-you-re-talking-about-coexisting-and-t_1966207.jpg) > [My record label always says you shouldn't talk about money because it makes people extremely uncomfortable. Refugees can't talk about money. Rappers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-record-label-always-says-you-shouldn-t-talk-about-money-because-it/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/m-i-a-3418_about_my-record-label-always-says-you-shouldn_1075757.jpg) > [In my head, I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, 'Damn, that's a pop song!' I can practice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are-pop-songs-i-think-damn-that-2/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/m-i-a-3418_actually_in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are_2530377.jpg) > [Somebody told me that if you wake up every day and do stuff that's easy, then you're doing the wrong thing. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/somebody-told-me-that-if-you-wake-up-every-day-and-do-stuff-that-s/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba7/m-i-a-3418_doing_somebody-told-me-that-if-you-wake-up-eve_2682404.jpg) > [I feel like people either love me or hate me, which is good, because that was the point of what I do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-like-people-either-love-me-or-hate-me-which-is-good-because/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/m-i-a-3418_about_i-feel-like-people-either-love-me-or-hat_389452.jpg) > [Art is supposed to be about creativity. But the same people are the same art darlings every month, and it's a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/art-is-supposed-to-be-about-creativity-but-the-same-people-are-the/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/m-i-a-3418_annoying_art-is-supposed-to-be-about-creativity-b_3176794.jpg) > [In my head I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, Damn, that's a pop song! I can practice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are-pop-songs-i-think-damn-that/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/m-i-a-3418_anthem_in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are_1792149.jpg) > [People say we're similar with Lady Gaga, that we both mix all these things in the pot and spit them out differently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/people-say-we-re-similar-with-lady-gaga-that-we-both-mix-all-these/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/m-i-a-3418_grace_people-say-we-re-similar-with-lady-gaga_365532.jpg) > [If right now, culture's so divisive, it just leaves these millions of people like me out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/if-right-now-culture-s-so-divisive-it-just-leaves-these-millions-of/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/m-i-a-3418_culture_if-right-now-culture-s-so-divisive-it-ju_2602292.jpg) > [It's a bit weird, because I don't really know what people expect or think being political is; I just don't get it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/it-s-a-bit-weird-because-i-don-t-really-know-what-people-expect-or/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/m-i-a-3418_am_it-s-a-bit-weird-because-i-don-t-really_583297.jpg) > [I never pigeonholed myself - the only reason you'd want to pigeonhole is to monetize your business and, as a person, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reason-you-d-want-to-pigeonhole/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/m-i-a-3418_business_i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reas_377232.jpg) > [I think people were genuinely addicted to hip hop in the 90s, addicted to the idea of empowerment. I think it came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-think-people-were-genuinely-addicted-to-hip-hop-in-the-90s-addicted/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/m-i-a-3418_empowerment_i-think-people-were-genuinely-addicted-t_1920052.jpg) > [I don't understand why people make me want to make music that's a join-the-dots thing by numbers. I find it really difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-understand-why-people-make-me-want-to-make-music-that-s-a/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/m-i-a-3418_allen_i-don-t-understand-why-people-make-me-wa_2561999.jpg) > [Me, it was always about being able to bounce around to where I wanna be. Like, with 'Arular,' people always say it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/me-it-was-always-about-being-able-to-bounce-around-to-where-i-wanna/) M.I.A [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/m-i-a-3418_able_me-it-was-always-about-being-able-to-bou_836442.jpg) ## Other authors on People - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b022/author-sunday-adelaja-87912.jpg) Sunday Adelaja 856 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/sunday-adelaja/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b021/author-rush-limbaugh-81741.jpg) Rush Limbaugh 843 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/rush-limbaugh/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b008/author-donald-trump-30060.jpg) Donald Trump 724 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/donald-trump/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-barack-obama-16275.jpg) Barack Obama 624 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/barack-obama/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-frederick-lenz-36205.jpg) Frederick Lenz 488 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/frederick-lenz/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-hillary-clinton-42043.jpg) Hillary Clinton 367 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/hillary-clinton/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-george-w-bush-38036.jpg) George W. Bush 298 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/george-w-bush/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b018/author-noam-chomsky-71799.jpg) Noam Chomsky 286 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/noam-chomsky/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-bernie-sanders-17420.jpg) Bernie Sanders 260 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/bernie-sanders/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b013/author-john-c-maxwell-51081.jpg) John C. Maxwell 249 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/john-c-maxwell/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-terry-pratchett-89528.jpg) Terry Pratchett 244 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/terry-pratchett/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-bill-gates-17911.jpg) Bill Gates 223 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/bill-gates/) ## More by M.I.A > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) M.I.A > [You have to constantly redefine who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/you-have-to-constantly-redefine-who-you-are/) M.I.A > [That's what I miss, being a real human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-i-miss-being-a-real-human/) M.I.A > [Retirement: a brand new beginning! How wonderful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/retirement-a-brand-new-beginning-how-wonderful/) M.I.A > [I don't like the idea of spirituality done the way it's done. The only way I could understand it was through creativity, not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-spirituality-done-the-way-it-s-done-the-only/) M.I.A > [I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-that-you-have-to-teach-people-in/) M.I.A > [The first 10 years of my life, I lived as 'Matangi.' When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/the-first-10-years-of-my-life-i-lived-as-matangi-when-i-came-to/) M.I.A > [My uncle was the first brown person to have a market stall on Petticoat Lane in the 1960s. He worked his way up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-uncle-was-the-first-brown-person-to-have-a-market-stall-on/) M.I.A > [That divide between the rich and poor is so crazy, because even white kids are suffering now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-divide-between-the-rich-and-poor-is-so-crazy-because-even-white/) M.I.A > [Businessmen in society are not going to be the ones that promote anything outside of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/businessmen-in-society-are-not-going-to-be-the-ones-that-promote/) M.I.A > [That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make the world stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-have-real-art-happen-in-an/) M.I.A > [I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyones perception of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-like-a-mirror-reflecting-back-everyones-perception-of-me/) M.I.A > [In England right now you're not good enough until you get validated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-england-right-now-you-re-not-good-enough-until-you-get-validated/) M.I.A > [I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people don't like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-always-a-question-mark-i-leave/) M.I.A > [Basically, when I went to school in Sri Lanka from age five onward, the classes there were sometimes sorted into a hierarchy of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/basically-when-i-went-to-school-in-sri-lanka-from-age-five-onward-the/) M.I.A ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/m-i-a/#itemlist", "name": "24 People Quotes By M.I.A", "numberOfItems": 24, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Instead of going to war, we should put the money into arts and culture and let creative people define what Britain is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/instead-of-going-to-war-we-should-put-the-money-into-arts-and-culture/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/m-i-a-3418_art_instead-of-going-to-war-we-should-put-th_3197776.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/m-i-a-3418_art_instead-of-going-to-war-we-should-put-th_3197776.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/m-i-a-3418_art_instead-of-going-to-war-we-should-put-th_3197776.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Instead of going to war, we should put the money into arts and culture and let creative people define what…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My giving birth was nothing when I think about all the people in Sri Lanka that have to give birth in a concentration camp.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-giving-birth-was-nothing-when-i-think-about-all-the-people-in-sri/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/m-i-a-3418_about_my-giving-birth-was-nothing-when-i-think_774552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/m-i-a-3418_about_my-giving-birth-was-nothing-when-i-think_774552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/m-i-a-3418_about_my-giving-birth-was-nothing-when-i-think_774552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My giving birth was nothing when I think about all the people in Sri Lanka that have to give birth in a…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's what's inspiring to me - finding someplace where people haven't already seen themselves in a certain light.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-s-inspiring-to-me-finding-someplace-where-people-haven-t/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/m-i-a-3418_certain_that-s-what-s-inspiring-to-me-finding-so_3213069.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/m-i-a-3418_certain_that-s-what-s-inspiring-to-me-finding-so_3213069.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/m-i-a-3418_certain_that-s-what-s-inspiring-to-me-finding-so_3213069.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's what's inspiring to me - finding someplace where people haven't already seen themselves in a certain…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't intentionally go: 'Ooh, what is provocative,' and try to do that. I just do stuff, and people go: 'Ooh, that's provocative.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-intentionally-go-ooh-what-is-provocative-and-try-to-do-that-i/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/m-i-a-3418_go_i-don-t-intentionally-go-ooh-what-is-pro_760493.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/m-i-a-3418_go_i-don-t-intentionally-go-ooh-what-is-pro_760493.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/m-i-a-3418_go_i-don-t-intentionally-go-ooh-what-is-pro_760493.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't intentionally go: 'Ooh, what is provocative,' and try to do that. I just do stuff, and people go…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make the world stop. The stuff on the street is a lot more interesting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-have-real-art-happen-in-an/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/m-i-a-3418_art_that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-h_293578.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/m-i-a-3418_art_that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-h_293578.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/m-i-a-3418_art_that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-h_293578.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people don't like that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-always-a-question-mark-i-leave/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/m-i-a-3418_load_i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-a_329887.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/m-i-a-3418_load_i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-a_329887.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/m-i-a-3418_load_i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-a_329887.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remember taking my demo to every dance person in London. People were like, 'We don't know what this is!' The first people to champion me were a club in Manchester.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-remember-taking-my-demo-to-every-dance-person-in-london-people-were/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/m-i-a-3418_champion_i-remember-taking-my-demo-to-every-dance_1305236.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/m-i-a-3418_champion_i-remember-taking-my-demo-to-every-dance_1305236.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/m-i-a-3418_champion_i-remember-taking-my-demo-to-every-dance_1305236.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I remember taking my demo to every dance person in London. People were like, 'We don't know what this is!'…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel so terrible for the kids now. In London, even people in their forties can't afford to buy a house or have kids.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-so-terrible-for-the-kids-now-in-london-even-people-in-their/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/m-i-a-3418_feels_i-feel-so-terrible-for-the-kids-now-in-l_1170294.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/m-i-a-3418_feels_i-feel-so-terrible-for-the-kids-now-in-l_1170294.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/m-i-a-3418_feels_i-feel-so-terrible-for-the-kids-now-in-l_1170294.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel so terrible for the kids now. In London, even people in their forties can't afford to buy a house or…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the beginning [of my career] I definitely felt a responsibility because I was representing a bunch of people [Sri lankans] who never got represented before. I felt this responsibility to correct that situation, to be like, \"Look, you can't discriminate against refugees and Muslim people and blah, blah, blah . . .\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-the-beginning-of-my-career-i-definitely-felt-a-responsibility/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/m-i-a-3418_blah_in-the-beginning-of-my-career-i-definite_2045146.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/m-i-a-3418_blah_in-the-beginning-of-my-career-i-definite_2045146.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/m-i-a-3418_blah_in-the-beginning-of-my-career-i-definite_2045146.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the beginning [of my career] I definitely felt a responsibility because I was representing a bunch of…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and happiness has become too one thing in American media. Achieving happiness is not really about having a flat stomach and the best car.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-that-you-have-to-teach-people-in/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/m-i-a-3418_achieve_i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-tha_91120.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/m-i-a-3418_achieve_i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-tha_91120.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/m-i-a-3418_achieve_i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-tha_91120.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're talking about coexisting and tolerance then you have to live by example, and you can't have shiny people all the time everywhere, which is what breeds that sort of thinking - this is better than this, that is better than that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/if-you-re-talking-about-coexisting-and-tolerance-then-you-have-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/m-i-a-3418_live-by_if-you-re-talking-about-coexisting-and-t_1966207.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/m-i-a-3418_live-by_if-you-re-talking-about-coexisting-and-t_1966207.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/m-i-a-3418_live-by_if-you-re-talking-about-coexisting-and-t_1966207.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're talking about coexisting and tolerance then you have to live by example, and you can't have shiny…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My record label always says you shouldn't talk about money because it makes people extremely uncomfortable. Refugees can't talk about money. Rappers can talk about money; refugees can't talk about money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-record-label-always-says-you-shouldn-t-talk-about-money-because-it/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/m-i-a-3418_about_my-record-label-always-says-you-shouldn_1075757.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/m-i-a-3418_about_my-record-label-always-says-you-shouldn_1075757.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/m-i-a-3418_about_my-record-label-always-says-you-shouldn_1075757.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My record label always says you shouldn't talk about money because it makes people extremely uncomfortable…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my head, I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, 'Damn, that's a pop song!' I can practice in front of the mirror with my hairbrush for as long as I want to. But when it finally comes out, it sounds avant-garde to people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are-pop-songs-i-think-damn-that-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/m-i-a-3418_actually_in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are_2530377.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/m-i-a-3418_actually_in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are_2530377.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/m-i-a-3418_actually_in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are_2530377.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my head, I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, 'Damn, that's a pop song!' I can practice in…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Somebody told me that if you wake up every day and do stuff that's easy, then you're doing the wrong thing. If you wake up every day and do stuff that's really hard and you manage to get through to people, then you're doing the right thing. They might have just fooled me by telling me that, but it worked. I think that's my philosophy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/somebody-told-me-that-if-you-wake-up-every-day-and-do-stuff-that-s/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba7/m-i-a-3418_doing_somebody-told-me-that-if-you-wake-up-eve_2682404.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba7/m-i-a-3418_doing_somebody-told-me-that-if-you-wake-up-eve_2682404.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba7/m-i-a-3418_doing_somebody-told-me-that-if-you-wake-up-eve_2682404.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Somebody told me that if you wake up every day and do stuff that's easy, then you're doing the wrong thing…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel like people either love me or hate me, which is good, because that was the point of what I do. The point of M.I.A. is to be - it's either to be loved or hated. At least you evoke that much of a strong opinion about music.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-like-people-either-love-me-or-hate-me-which-is-good-because/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/m-i-a-3418_about_i-feel-like-people-either-love-me-or-hat_389452.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/m-i-a-3418_about_i-feel-like-people-either-love-me-or-hat_389452.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/m-i-a-3418_about_i-feel-like-people-either-love-me-or-hat_389452.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel like people either love me or hate me, which is good, because that was the point of what I do. The…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Art is supposed to be about creativity. But the same people are the same art darlings every month, and it's a bit annoying. It's supposed to be diverse and interesting and conceptual and have weird concepts in a comfortable place.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/art-is-supposed-to-be-about-creativity-but-the-same-people-are-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/m-i-a-3418_annoying_art-is-supposed-to-be-about-creativity-b_3176794.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/m-i-a-3418_annoying_art-is-supposed-to-be-about-creativity-b_3176794.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/m-i-a-3418_annoying_art-is-supposed-to-be-about-creativity-b_3176794.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Art is supposed to be about creativity. But the same people are the same art darlings every month, and it's…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my head I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, Damn, that's a pop song! I can practice in front of the mirror with my hairbrush for as long as I want to. But when it finally comes out, it sounds avant-garde to people. Right up until then, though, I think, \"Of course everybody feels this way. This song's the same as the Greek national anthem.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are-pop-songs-i-think-damn-that/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/m-i-a-3418_anthem_in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are_1792149.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/m-i-a-3418_anthem_in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are_1792149.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/m-i-a-3418_anthem_in-my-head-i-actually-think-my-songs-are_1792149.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my head I actually think my songs are pop songs. I think, Damn, that's a pop song! I can practice in…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People say we're similar with Lady Gaga, that we both mix all these things in the pot and spit them out differently, but she spits it out exactly the same! None of her music's reflective of how weird she wants to be or thinks she is. She models herself on Grace Jones and Madonna, but the music sounds like 20-year-old Ibiza music, you know? She's not progressive, but she's a good mimic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/people-say-we-re-similar-with-lady-gaga-that-we-both-mix-all-these/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/m-i-a-3418_grace_people-say-we-re-similar-with-lady-gaga_365532.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/m-i-a-3418_grace_people-say-we-re-similar-with-lady-gaga_365532.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/m-i-a-3418_grace_people-say-we-re-similar-with-lady-gaga_365532.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People say we're similar with Lady Gaga, that we both mix all these things in the pot and spit them out…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 19, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If right now, culture's so divisive, it just leaves these millions of people like me out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/if-right-now-culture-s-so-divisive-it-just-leaves-these-millions-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/m-i-a-3418_culture_if-right-now-culture-s-so-divisive-it-ju_2602292.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/m-i-a-3418_culture_if-right-now-culture-s-so-divisive-it-ju_2602292.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/m-i-a-3418_culture_if-right-now-culture-s-so-divisive-it-ju_2602292.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If right now, culture's so divisive, it just leaves these millions of people like me out.” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 20, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a bit weird, because I don't really know what people expect or think being political is; I just don't get it. What am I supposed to do as a pop star-stroke-revolutionary? Get up and put my balaclava on, go to the grocery store and then invent some Google viruses, and then go to rob a bank to fund my revolution on YouTube?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/it-s-a-bit-weird-because-i-don-t-really-know-what-people-expect-or/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/m-i-a-3418_am_it-s-a-bit-weird-because-i-don-t-really_583297.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/m-i-a-3418_am_it-s-a-bit-weird-because-i-don-t-really_583297.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/m-i-a-3418_am_it-s-a-bit-weird-because-i-don-t-really_583297.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a bit weird, because I don't really know what people expect or think being political is; I just don't…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 21, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never pigeonholed myself - the only reason you'd want to pigeonhole is to monetize your business and, as a person, I don't see the importance of doing that. My music took off above the rest of those things: You can just make a song, put it on a CD, and get it out to all these people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reason-you-d-want-to-pigeonhole/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/m-i-a-3418_business_i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reas_377232.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/m-i-a-3418_business_i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reas_377232.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/m-i-a-3418_business_i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reas_377232.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never pigeonholed myself - the only reason you'd want to pigeonhole is to monetize your business and, as a…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 22, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think people were genuinely addicted to hip hop in the 90s, addicted to the idea of empowerment. I think it came from [the fact that] the rappers in the 90s, their parents coming from the 70s, had such a rich variety of records to sample.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-think-people-were-genuinely-addicted-to-hip-hop-in-the-90s-addicted/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/m-i-a-3418_empowerment_i-think-people-were-genuinely-addicted-t_1920052.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/m-i-a-3418_empowerment_i-think-people-were-genuinely-addicted-t_1920052.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/m-i-a-3418_empowerment_i-think-people-were-genuinely-addicted-t_1920052.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think people were genuinely addicted to hip hop in the 90s, addicted to the idea of empowerment. I think…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 23, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't understand why people make me want to make music that's a join-the-dots thing by numbers. I find it really difficult when people say, 'Aw, you should have made a really big hip hop record, that would have been really good for you' or, 'You should have made a song like Lily Allen, that would have been so great.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-understand-why-people-make-me-want-to-make-music-that-s-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/m-i-a-3418_allen_i-don-t-understand-why-people-make-me-wa_2561999.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/m-i-a-3418_allen_i-don-t-understand-why-people-make-me-wa_2561999.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/m-i-a-3418_allen_i-don-t-understand-why-people-make-me-wa_2561999.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't understand why people make me want to make music that's a join-the-dots thing by numbers. I find it…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 24, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Me, it was always about being able to bounce around to where I wanna be. Like, with 'Arular,' people always say it's so political, but I think 50 per cent of the album is not very political at all. It's just really a shouty, shouty girl thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/me-it-was-always-about-being-able-to-bounce-around-to-where-i-wanna/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/m-i-a-3418_able_me-it-was-always-about-being-able-to-bou_836442.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/m-i-a-3418_able_me-it-was-always-about-being-able-to-bou_836442.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/m-i-a-3418_able_me-it-was-always-about-being-able-to-bou_836442.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Me, it was always about being able to bounce around to where I wanna be. Like, with 'Arular,' people always…” — M.I.A", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/m-i-a/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/m-i-a/", "name": "People Quotes by M.I.A", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/m-i-a/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/m-i-a-3418_art_instead-of-going-to-war-we-should-put-th_3197776.jpg" }, "description": "24 People quotes by M.I.A. Plus more from M.I.A and more People sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/m-i-a/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/m-i-a/#breadcrumb", "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": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "M.I.A", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/m-i-a/" } ] }, { "@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 } } ] } ```