--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a poet; I am not a worker. I need to…" description: "\"I am a poet; I am not a worker. I need to be free.\" — Alejandro Jodorowsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_am_i-am-a-poet-i-am-not-a-worker-i-need-to_1348778.png" --- # I am a poet; I am not a worker. I need to be free. ![“I am a poet; I am not a worker. I need to be free.” quote by Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_am_i-am-a-poet-i-am-not-a-worker-i-need-to_1348778.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_am_i-am-a-poet-i-am-not-a-worker-i-need-to_1348778.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_am_i-am-a-poet-i-am-not-a-worker-i-need-to_1348778.png) > “I am a poet; I am not a worker. I need to be free.” [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artistic freedom demands breaking conventional work constraints to nurture creativity. **In simple terms:** Poet seeks freedom, not routine work. Key Takeaway Prioritize creative expression over restrictive jobs. Themes art freedom creativity identity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - writing retreat - gallery opening - performance art - personal projects Key Concepts existentialism artistic rebellion Questions to Reflect On - What creative pursuits need more freedom? - How to balance art and livelihood? A Different Perspective Financial stability may suffer without structured work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [We need a free media, not just freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/we-need-a-free-media-not-just-freedom-of-speech/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [If I believe we need free personal care, we need an honest discussion about what it costs with a well-managed, well-trained workforce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-lamont/if-i-believe-we-need-free-personal-care-we-need-an-honest-discussion/) [Johann Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-lamont/) > [I need to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-blake/i-need-to-be-free/) [Amanda Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-blake/) > [Only you know who you were born to be and you need to be free to be that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-rose/only-you-know-who-you-were-born-to-be-and-you-need-to-be-free-to-be/) [Ruby Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-rose/) > [They can only set free men free... And there is no need of that: Free men set themselves free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/they-can-only-set-free-men-free-and-there-is-no-need-of-that-free-men/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [We need to be free to do deals with the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/we-need-to-be-free-to-do-deals-with-the-rest-of-the-world/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [Everything you want is cheap or free. If you went to a venture capitalist and said: "I need money to buy tools." You flunked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/everything-you-want-is-cheap-or-free-if-you-went-to-a-venture/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [“My Oneness will stop the machine that overtakes people's minds. Do we really need new clothes, or new cars, or new TVs? Should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-lo/my-oneness-will-stop-the-machine-that-overtakes-people-s-minds-do-we/) [Teresa Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-lo/) > [“He had stopped drinking, but the need to be free had been just as great...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-had-stopped-drinking-but-the-need-to-be-free-had-been-just-as-great/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [We need to move back toward a free market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-cuccinelli/we-need-to-move-back-toward-a-free-market/) [Ken Cuccinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-cuccinelli/) > [“When you forgive somebody, it’s not so much for them as it is for you. You need to be free from that. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-sturm/when-you-forgive-somebody-it-s-not-so-much-for-them-as-it-is-for-you/) [Lacey Sturm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-sturm/) > [We need a free press. We must have it. It's vital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/we-need-a-free-press-we-must-have-it-it-s-vital/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [We need to be free if we are to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/we-need-to-be-free-if-we-are-to-love/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [The first need of a free people is to define their own terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stokely-carmichael/the-first-need-of-a-free-people-is-to-define-their-own-terms/) [Stokely Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stokely-carmichael/) > [We need free men who feel and know that God is in themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/we-need-free-men-who-feel-and-know-that-god-is-in-themselves/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) ## More by Alejandro Jodorowsky > [The only thing a master can teach is how to learn about yourself. There are no secrets. They are only techniques to waken yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/the-only-thing-a-master-can-teach-is-how-to-learn-about-yourself/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I have always thought that, of all the arts, the cinema is the most complete art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-have-always-thought-that-of-all-the-arts-the-cinema-is-the-most/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [My writing routine is everyday I put a record on, the same one since 20 years. Then I burn a stick of incense, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/my-writing-routine-is-everyday-i-put-a-record-on-the-same-one-since/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [If you are great, 'El Topo' is a great picture. If you are limited, 'El Topo' is limited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/if-you-are-great-el-topo-is-a-great-picture-if-you-are-limited-el/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > ['Santa Sangre' is the picture I love the best, myself, because 'El Topo' and 'The Holy Mountain' I made with my head, and 'Santa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/santa-sangre-is-the-picture-i-love-the-best-myself-because-el-topo/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Surrealism was necessary - essential, even - in the 1920s to bridge the gap between rationalism and the subconscious. It started something important. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/surrealism-was-necessary-essential-even-in-the-1920s-to-bridge-the/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Life is beautiful, what do you think? In the morning I say, 'Ah, I am alive still!' All my friends die already. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/life-is-beautiful-what-do-you-think-in-the-morning-i-say-ah-i-am/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [One day I was sitting in my own pain, and suddenly all the pain and troubles of the world came to me. I received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/one-day-i-was-sitting-in-my-own-pain-and-suddenly-all-the-pain-and/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [You can’t have a masterpiece without madness,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/you-can-t-have-a-masterpiece-without-madness/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [It's so weird to be alive and to be inside a body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/it-s-so-weird-to-be-alive-and-to-be-inside-a-body/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I don't see myself as a moviemaker only, you know? When I can do a picture, I do. But I don't work like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-don-t-see-myself-as-a-moviemaker-only-you-know-when-i-can-do-a/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I was alone as a child. I lived in fairytales, adventures, Shakespeare. They are the friends, my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-was-alone-as-a-child-i-lived-in-fairytales-adventures-shakespeare/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Psychoanalysis wants to heal with words and speaking, but sometimes with speaking, you realize nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/psychoanalysis-wants-to-heal-with-words-and-speaking-but-sometimes/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Words don't heal. Art heals!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/words-don-t-heal-art-heals/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Being essentially a creator, I never set out to shock, always thinking about creating my work and not about the benefits it could produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/being-essentially-a-creator-i-never-set-out-to-shock-always-thinking/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) [Explore all 191 Alejandro Jodorowsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am a poet; I am not a worker. 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