---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've tried actively to define myself and…"
description: "\"I've tried actively to define myself and redefine myself, and not be pigeonholed.\" — David Alan Grier"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/david-alan-grier-21112_define-myself_i-ve-tried-actively-to-define-myself-and_1688135.jpg"
---

#  I've tried actively to define myself and redefine myself…

![“I've tried actively to define myself and redefine myself, and not be pigeonholed.” quote by David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/david-alan-grier-21112_define-myself_i-ve-tried-actively-to-define-myself-and_1688135.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/david-alan-grier-21112_define-myself_i-ve-tried-actively-to-define-myself-and_1688135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/david-alan-grier-21112_define-myself_i-ve-tried-actively-to-define-myself-and_1688135.jpg)

> “I've tried actively to define myself and redefine myself, and not be pigeonholed.”

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

## About This Quote

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

Discusses effort to avoid being typecast and continuously redefine personal identity

**In simple terms:** Strives to prevent being pigeonholed

Key Takeaway

Seek varied roles and self‑definition

Themes

career identity creativity

Mood

reflective determined

Type

professional advice personal narrative

When to use this quote

- Auditioning for diverse parts
- personal branding
- skill development
- networking events

Key Concepts

Self‑concept industry expectations

Questions to Reflect On

- How can one balance consistency with reinvention?
- What strategies protect against typecasting?

A Different Perspective

Risk of inconsistency in public image

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Define Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-myself/)

## Related quotes

> [You can get pigeonholed in Hollywood and people think of you in a certain way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-wilson/you-can-get-pigeonholed-in-hollywood-and-people-think-of-you-in-a/)

[Luke Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-wilson/)

> [My dad taught me to never be pigeonholed; to really allow yourself to reinvent characters as they reinvent you; to be bold and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/my-dad-taught-me-to-never-be-pigeonholed-to-really-allow-yourself-to/)

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> [I wanted to quit the industry when I was eighteen and finish '70s', finish my contract on the show and go to college because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/i-wanted-to-quit-the-industry-when-i-was-eighteen-and-finish-70s/)

[Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/)

> [My music is pretty versatile; I have a lot of genres and styles. I don't think I should be pigeonholed into one thing. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-bowersox/my-music-is-pretty-versatile-i-have-a-lot-of-genres-and-styles-i-don/)

[Crystal Bowersox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-bowersox/)

> [When I was younger, you get pigeonholed in parts, which is understandable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-zahn/when-i-was-younger-you-get-pigeonholed-in-parts-which-is/)

[Steve Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-zahn/)

> [My first reaction to being pigeonholed or pushed into certain confines is to be like, 'No, I'm the opposite,' you know? Like, don't put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/my-first-reaction-to-being-pigeonholed-or-pushed-into-certain/)

[Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reason-you-d-want-to-pigeonhole/)

M.I.A

> [I can create clothes for so many different time periods. I've always tried to avoid being pigeonholed. Plus, everything I learn about design and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-can-create-clothes-for-so-many-different-time-periods-i-ve-always/)

[Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/)

> [I haven't ever been stereotyped or pigeonholed or put into a box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/i-haven-t-ever-been-stereotyped-or-pigeonholed-or-put-into-a-box/)

[Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/)

> [I don't like to get pigeonholed. I don't like it when people think they have you sewn up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-don-t-like-to-get-pigeonholed-i-don-t-like-it-when-people-think/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I don't really think about being pigeonholed so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-don-t-really-think-about-being-pigeonholed-so-much/)

[Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/)

> [It's not fun for an actor to be pigeonholed in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/it-s-not-fun-for-an-actor-to-be-pigeonholed-in-any-way/)

[Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/)

> [I've never been pigeonholed and I've experienced so many different kinds of skin - what man will do and won't do, what you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-never-been-pigeonholed-and-i-ve-experienced-so-many-different/)

[Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/)

> [A lot of times, women are pigeonholed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/a-lot-of-times-women-are-pigeonholed/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [I don't want to get pigeonholed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/i-don-t-want-to-get-pigeonholed/)

[Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/)

## More by David Alan Grier

> [When I was a kid, I wanted to walk with my dad's limp - my dad was my hero - but that infuriated him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/when-i-was-a-kid-i-wanted-to-walk-with-my-dad-s-limp-my-dad-was-my/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [I want to see gay couples stuck with their significant other at Home Depot with that far away look in their eye, get me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-want-to-see-gay-couples-stuck-with-their-significant-other-at-home/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [To be known by the public, honestly. People come up and tell them how good I make them feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/to-be-known-by-the-public-honestly-people-come-up-and-tell-them-how/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [I think Chelsea Handler is the funniest woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-think-chelsea-handler-is-the-funniest-woman/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [Don't let anyone try to tell you who you are. Define yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/don-t-let-anyone-try-to-tell-you-who-you-are-define-yourself/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [My father contracted polio on a troop train in Korea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/my-father-contracted-polio-on-a-troop-train-in-korea/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [I decided sitcoms weren't for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-decided-sitcoms-weren-t-for-me/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [I never wanted to lose out on an acting job and wonder if I hadn't been trained enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-never-wanted-to-lose-out-on-an-acting-job-and-wonder-if-i-hadn-t/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [I try to make my bed every day for mental health. Coming home to an unmade bed or a room with clothes all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-try-to-make-my-bed-every-day-for-mental-health-coming-home-to-an/)

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> [I wanted to be a leading man - the black lawyer, the black doctor, the black policeman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-wanted-to-be-a-leading-man-the-black-lawyer-the-black-doctor-the/)

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> [Every little kid has always wanted to be a race car driver. This gets some of that out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/every-little-kid-has-always-wanted-to-be-a-race-car-driver-this-gets/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [I had done the sitcom thing to lesser and lesser degrees of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-and-lesser-degrees-of-success/)

[David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

> [The president is always made fun of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/the-president-is-always-made-fun-of/)

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[Explore all 29 David Alan Grier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/)

## More Pigeonholed quotes

> [You can get pigeonholed in Hollywood and people think of you in a certain way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-wilson/you-can-get-pigeonholed-in-hollywood-and-people-think-of-you-in-a/)

[Luke Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-wilson/)

> [A lot of times, women are pigeonholed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/a-lot-of-times-women-are-pigeonholed/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [I've never been pigeonholed and I've experienced so many different kinds of skin - what man will do and won't do, what you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-never-been-pigeonholed-and-i-ve-experienced-so-many-different/)

[Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/)

> [It's not fun for an actor to be pigeonholed in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/it-s-not-fun-for-an-actor-to-be-pigeonholed-in-any-way/)

[Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/)

> [I don't really think about being pigeonholed so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-don-t-really-think-about-being-pigeonholed-so-much/)

[Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/)

> [I don't like to get pigeonholed. I don't like it when people think they have you sewn up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-don-t-like-to-get-pigeonholed-i-don-t-like-it-when-people-think/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I haven't ever been stereotyped or pigeonholed or put into a box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/i-haven-t-ever-been-stereotyped-or-pigeonholed-or-put-into-a-box/)

[Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/)

> [I can create clothes for so many different time periods. I've always tried to avoid being pigeonholed. Plus, everything I learn about design and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/i-can-create-clothes-for-so-many-different-time-periods-i-ve-always/)

[Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reason-you-d-want-to-pigeonhole/)

M.I.A

> [My first reaction to being pigeonholed or pushed into certain confines is to be like, 'No, I'm the opposite,' you know? Like, don't put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/my-first-reaction-to-being-pigeonholed-or-pushed-into-certain/)

[Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/)

> [When I was younger, you get pigeonholed in parts, which is understandable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-zahn/when-i-was-younger-you-get-pigeonholed-in-parts-which-is/)

[Steve Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-zahn/)

> [My music is pretty versatile; I have a lot of genres and styles. I don't think I should be pigeonholed into one thing. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-bowersox/my-music-is-pretty-versatile-i-have-a-lot-of-genres-and-styles-i-don/)

[Crystal Bowersox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-bowersox/)

> [I wanted to quit the industry when I was eighteen and finish '70s', finish my contract on the show and go to college because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/i-wanted-to-quit-the-industry-when-i-was-eighteen-and-finish-70s/)

[Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/)

> [My dad taught me to never be pigeonholed; to really allow yourself to reinvent characters as they reinvent you; to be bold and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/my-dad-taught-me-to-never-be-pigeonholed-to-really-allow-yourself-to/)

[Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/)

> [I don't want to get pigeonholed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/i-don-t-want-to-get-pigeonholed/)

[Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/)

Browse all 69 Pigeonholed quotes

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