---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people's identities were important…"
description: "\"“Most people's identities were important to them, something they wouldn't shed. It was proud, it was timid, it was laudable, it was stupid. It stuck pe..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-sorrentino-70702_friendship_most-people-s-identities-were-important_2741683.jpg"
---

#  Most people's identities were important to them, something…

![“Most people's identities were important to them, something they wouldn't shed. It was proud, it was timid, it was laudable, it was stupid. It stuck people with dumb friends and crummy marriages. Trapped them in dead towns and murderous neighborhoods. It manufactured tradition from the…” quote by Christopher Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-sorrentino-70702_friendship_most-people-s-identities-were-important_2741683.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-sorrentino-70702_friendship_most-people-s-identities-were-important_2741683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-sorrentino-70702_friendship_most-people-s-identities-were-important_2741683.jpg)

> ““Most people's identities were important to them, something they wouldn't shed. It was proud, it was timid, it was laudable, it was stupid. It stuck people with dumb friends and crummy marriages. Trapped them in dead towns and murderous neighborhoods. It manufactured tradition from the uninterrupted drudgery of successive generations. It transformed ignorant belief into folklore, and ignorance itself into defiance. Identity was a trap.””

[Christopher Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-sorrentino/)

## About This Quote

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

Identity can trap people in limiting traditions and relationships, turning ignorance into folklore and defiance.

**In simple terms:** Identity can be a trap, creating limiting traditions and ignorance.

Key Takeaway

Question identity constraints.

Themes

identity tradition ignorance

Mood

reflective critical

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- community building
- social movements

Key Concepts

sociology psychology culture

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your identity shape your choices?
- Can you break free from limiting traditions?

A Different Perspective

May generalize diverse experiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Folklore Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folklore-ignorance-3032201/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Identities Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identities-important-3032199/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity Trap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-trap-3032200/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [People Identities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-identities-1106026/)

## Related quotes

> [I see fashion as a proclamation or manifestation of identity, so, as long as identities are important, fashion will continue to be important. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/i-see-fashion-as-a-proclamation-or-manifestation-of-identity-so-as/)

[Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/)

> [The narrative that each person tells herself and others is a big part of how we construct our self-identities. It's one of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-o-connor/the-narrative-that-each-person-tells-herself-and-others-is-a-big-part/)

[Peg O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-o-connor/)

> [Other people's identities do not need to be a discussion all of the time. We need to just accept that other people know themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-fightmaster/other-people-s-identities-do-not-need-to-be-a-discussion-all-of-the/)

[E. R. Fightmaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-fightmaster/)

> [“Our spirits are full of possibilities, yet we tie ourselves down to socially-prescribed names and categories so we're acceptable to more people. We take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/our-spirits-are-full-of-possibilities-yet-we-tie-ourselves-down-to/)

[Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/)

> [In high school I became a vegetarian more times than I can now remember, most often as an effort to claim some identity in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/in-high-school-i-became-a-vegetarian-more-times-than-i-can-now/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

> [For white people, their identities rest on the idea of racism as about good or bad people, about moral or immoral singular acts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/for-white-people-their-identities-rest-on-the-idea-of-racism-as-about/)

[Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/)

> [There are infinite combinations that people can experience, because no two people are alike, and no two people's identities should be expected to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/there-are-infinite-combinations-that-people-can-experience-because-no/)

[Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/)

> [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/)

[S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/)

> [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/)

[Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/)

> [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/)

[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/)

> [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/)

[Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/)

> [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/)

[Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/)

> [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/)

[Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/)

## More by Christopher Sorrentino

> [“Everything is 'smart' now. The library cataloging system is smart, classification and indexing information entered into a uniform online database. People wept and lamented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sorrentino/everything-is-smart-now-the-library-cataloging-system-is-smart/)

[Christopher Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-sorrentino/)

> [“I was never a planner, but to wait is to plan, or it is itself some sort of plan. Actions move us swiftly into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sorrentino/i-was-never-a-planner-but-to-wait-is-to-plan-or-it-is-itself-some/)

[Christopher Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-sorrentino/)

> [“The reflex of comforting him, of assuaging his fears, of forgiving the boy crouched behind the props, took over, and she stubbed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sorrentino/the-reflex-of-comforting-him-of-assuaging-his-fears-of-forgiving-the/)

[Christopher Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-sorrentino/)

[Explore all 4 Christopher Sorrentino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-sorrentino/)

## More Friendship quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/)

[Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/)

[Unknwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknwon/)

> [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/)

[Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/)

> [If you love some one for who they are not for there body or how many friend so when you say I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/if-you-love-some-one-for-who-they-are-not-for-there-body-or-how-many/)

[Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/)

> [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/)

[Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/)

> [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/)

[Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/)

> [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/)

[Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/)

> [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/)

[Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/)

> [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/)

[Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/)

[Browse all 45,469 Friendship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Most people's identities were important to them, something they wouldn't shed. It was proud, it was timid, it was laudable, it was stupid. It stuck people with dumb friends and crummy marriages. Trapped them in dead towns and murderous neighborhoods. It manufactured tradition from the uninterrupted drudgery of successive generations. It transformed ignorant belief into folklore, and ignorance itself into defiance. Identity was a trap.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Christopher Sorrentino"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sorrentino/most-people-s-identities-were-important-to-them-something-they-wouldn/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Friendship"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sorrentino/most-people-s-identities-were-important-to-them-something-they-wouldn/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-sorrentino-70702_friendship_most-people-s-identities-were-important_2741683.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-sorrentino-70702_friendship_most-people-s-identities-were-important_2741683.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/christopher-sorrentino-70702_friendship_most-people-s-identities-were-important_2741683.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Most people's identities were important to them, something they wouldn't shed. It was proud, it was timid…” — Christopher Sorrentino",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "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": "Christopher Sorrentino",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-sorrentino/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Most people's identities were important to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sorrentino/most-people-s-identities-were-important-to-them-something-they-wouldn/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sorrentino/most-people-s-identities-were-important-to-them-something-they-wouldn/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
