--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I felt I had to choose between being…" description: "\"I felt I had to choose between being pretty or smart or athletic, and stick to it because if you try to do more than one, you have nowhere to belong. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/alison-sudol-6913_choose_i-felt-i-had-to-choose-between-being-pre_2980167.jpg" --- # I felt I had to choose between being pretty or smart or… ![“I felt I had to choose between being pretty or smart or athletic, and stick to it because if you try to do more than one, you have nowhere to belong. Then music was a boy's world and a lot of times men assumed I didn't know what I was doing because I was young and female.” quote by Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/alison-sudol-6913_choose_i-felt-i-had-to-choose-between-being-pre_2980167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/alison-sudol-6913_choose_i-felt-i-had-to-choose-between-being-pre_2980167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/alison-sudol-6913_choose_i-felt-i-had-to-choose-between-being-pre_2980167.jpg) > “I felt I had to choose between being pretty or smart or athletic, and stick to it because if you try to do more than one, you have nowhere to belong. Then music was a boy's world and a lot of times men assumed I didn't know what I was doing because I was young and female.” [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling forced to fit into one narrow identity limits potential and invites stereotypes. **In simple terms:** Choosing one label limits you and invites bias. Key Takeaway Embrace multiple talents despite expectations. Themes identity stereotypes gender talent societal pressure Mood frustrated determined hopeful Type personal social inspirational When to use this quote - school choices - career planning - creative pursuits - advocacy for gender equality Key Concepts intersectionality self‑definition bias Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture diverse interests without pressure? - What structures reinforce single‑track identities? A Different Perspective Societal expectations often force binary choices, ignoring complex identities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Choose Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-pretty-4631040/) [Doing Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-young-1521079/) [Felt Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-choose-4631041/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Try Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-belong-776005/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Try, if you can, to belong to the first class. There's far less competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-morrow/try-if-you-can-to-belong-to-the-first-class-there-s-far-less/) [Dwight Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-morrow/) > [“I no longer felt I could try to belong with these people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-sudjic/i-no-longer-felt-i-could-try-to-belong-with-these-people/) [Olivia Sudjic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-sudjic/) > [...youth is only being in a way like it might be an animal. No, it is not just like being an animal so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/youth-is-only-being-in-a-way-like-it-might-be-an-animal-no-it-is-not/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [What I've been doing, since I am young, is leading by example, practicing hard and doing everything on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-rubio/what-i-ve-been-doing-since-i-am-young-is-leading-by-example/) [Ricky Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-rubio/) > [“The only way that I have seen to keep teenagers out of one another's arms is to give them a bigger, more wonderful goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-harris/the-only-way-that-i-have-seen-to-keep-teenagers-out-of-one-another-s/) [Gregg Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-harris/) > [You never want to look like an old fart doing young rap music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-quik/you-never-want-to-look-like-an-old-fart-doing-young-rap-music/) [DJ Quik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-quik/) > [“Yes yes yes, there it was. Youth must go, ah yes. But youth is only being in a way like it might be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/yes-yes-yes-there-it-was-youth-must-go-ah-yes-but-youth-is-only-being-2/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [I do music for the love of it, and I've been doing it from a very young age: about 11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/i-do-music-for-the-love-of-it-and-i-ve-been-doing-it-from-a-very/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [I grew up in an acting family. I was heavily discouraged from doing it myself when I was young, which is the only responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-davenport/i-grew-up-in-an-acting-family-i-was-heavily-discouraged-from-doing-it/) [Jack Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-davenport/) > [Obviously, at Manchester United, I want to be working hard, and I have been doing that ever since I was a young kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-welbeck/obviously-at-manchester-united-i-want-to-be-working-hard-and-i-have/) [Danny Welbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-welbeck/) > [“Yes yes yes, there it was. Youth must go, ah yes. But youth is only being in a way like it might be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/yes-yes-yes-there-it-was-youth-must-go-ah-yes-but-youth-is-only-being/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [School bored me. Being educated and being intelligent are two different things. I thought I was smart enough. And I wanted to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djimon-hounsou/school-bored-me-being-educated-and-being-intelligent-are-two/) [Djimon Hounsou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djimon-hounsou/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Alison Sudol > [As a person life has always been a bit of a challenge for me and I have spent so much of my early years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/as-a-person-life-has-always-been-a-bit-of-a-challenge-for-me-and-i/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Even when my every inclination is to be otherwise, I don't want to live my life on the dark side of things. Sometimes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/even-when-my-every-inclination-is-to-be-otherwise-i-don-t-want-to/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I just love the holidays so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-just-love-the-holidays-so-much/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Percussion is so good for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/percussion-is-so-good-for-me/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I was a very quiet kid who didn't feel normal being outgoing and running around, so all the beauty that was in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-was-a-very-quiet-kid-who-didn-t-feel-normal-being-outgoing-and/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Whether it's a photograph or a piece of clothing, a leather bag or a film, I tend to gravitate towards simple, beautifully made, quietly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/whether-it-s-a-photograph-or-a-piece-of-clothing-a-leather-bag-or-a/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [There are two things I love about Temescal. One is the sense of space that you get when you get to the top. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/there-are-two-things-i-love-about-temescal-one-is-the-sense-of-space/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I think something that is never really spoken about is the learning process of making records - I made my first record at twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-think-something-that-is-never-really-spoken-about-is-the-learning/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I want you to feel in 'Riversong' like you're floating down a river on your back, and you're looking at the stars, and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-want-you-to-feel-in-riversong-like-you-re-floating-down-a-river-on/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I have a huge love for architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-have-a-huge-love-for-architecture/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [In my mind, I'm still that kid who gets affected by other people's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/in-my-mind-i-m-still-that-kid-who-gets-affected-by-other-people-s/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [As a musician, you kinda get used to failure in life, and then when things actually start succeeding, it's a very interesting feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/as-a-musician-you-kinda-get-used-to-failure-in-life-and-then-when/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [“They are the hunters we are the rabbits”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/they-are-the-hunters-we-are-the-rabbits/) [Alison sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Whatever you're doing, you have to do it 100 percent; you have to be totally present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/whatever-you-re-doing-you-have-to-do-it-100-percent-you-have-to-be/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [To me, the making of art and experiences around that are the biggest part to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/to-me-the-making-of-art-and-experiences-around-that-are-the-biggest/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) [Explore all 96 Alison Sudol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) ## More Choose quotes > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [If somebody asks me to choose a biopic, it would be Narain Karthikeyan because I love racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/if-somebody-asks-me-to-choose-a-biopic-it-would-be-narain-karthikeyan/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...so you gotta choose who is good for you! Be wise, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-so-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not opposed - we manufacture a lot of socks in North Carolina - I just choose not to wear them. It's a Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-m-not-opposed-we-manufacture-a-lot-of-socks-in-north-carolina-i/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Having too many options is bad. I want one person, just one. Not a whole bunch to choose from,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderickthefirst/having-too-many-options-is-bad-i-want-one-person-just-one-not-a-whole/) [RoderickTheFirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderickthefirst/) > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) [Browse all 3,851 Choose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I felt I had to choose between being pretty or smart or athletic, and stick to it because if you try to do more than one, you have nowhere to belong. 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