---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It makes me sad when I see artists who…"
description: "\"It makes me sad when I see artists who come alive when they go onstage, because, gee, I really come alive when I'm home.\" — David Bowie"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/david-bowie-508_alive_it-makes-me-sad-when-i-see-artists-who-c_1917775.jpg"
---

#  It makes me sad when I see artists who come alive when…

![“It makes me sad when I see artists who come alive when they go onstage, because, gee, I really come alive when I'm home.” quote by David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/david-bowie-508_alive_it-makes-me-sad-when-i-see-artists-who-c_1917775.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/david-bowie-508_alive_it-makes-me-sad-when-i-see-artists-who-c_1917775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/david-bowie-508_alive_it-makes-me-sad-when-i-see-artists-who-c_1917775.jpg)

> “It makes me sad when I see artists who come alive when they go onstage, because, gee, I really come alive when I'm home.”

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

## About This Quote

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

Artists may feel more alive on stage than at home, highlighting the paradox of public performance versus private life.

**In simple terms:** Artists thrive on stage but feel lonely at home.

Key Takeaway

Balance public and private selves.

Themes

art identity performance

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- concert tours
- creative retreats
- home life
- fan interactions

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you nurture creativity offline?
- What does “alive” mean to you?

A Different Perspective

Public persona can mask personal struggles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Alive Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive-home-1881019/) [Alive Onstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive-onstage-2926251/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Makes Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-sad/) [Onstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/onstage/) [Sad Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-artists-2926250/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm grateful to be alive, because I really did not think I was going to be alive, onstage performing songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-jones/i-m-grateful-to-be-alive-because-i-really-did-not-think-i-was-going/)

[Sharon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-jones/)

> [“It is always a bonus to come out of a severe storm alive and with the home still intact!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-always-a-bonus-to-come-out-of-a-severe-storm-alive-and-with-the/)

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> [I figure that if the children are alive when I get home, I've done my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-figure-that-if-the-children-are-alive-when-i-get-home-i-ve-done-my/)

[Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/)

> [Home is ultimately not about a place to live but about the people with whom you are most fully alive. Home is about love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-ultimately-not-about-a-place-to-live-but-about-the-people/)

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

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [It makes me sad that we're not together, but it's okay because I know that you will never find another me..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ericson-grey/it-makes-me-sad-that-we-re-not-together-but-it-s-okay-because-i-know/)

[Ericson Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ericson-grey/)

> [“The South is very beautiful but its beauty makes one sad because the lives that people live, and have lived here, are so ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/the-south-is-very-beautiful-but-its-beauty-makes-one-sad-because-the/)

[James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/)

> [One cries when one is sad, for example I cry because others are stupid and that makes me sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-cries-when-one-is-sad-for-example-i-cry-because-others-are-stupid/)

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

> [But if a mirror ever makes you sad you should know that it does not know you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/but-if-a-mirror-ever-makes-you-sad-you-should-know-that-it-does-not/)

[Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/)

> [In fact, the likeliest reason why so many of us care so little about politics is that modern politicians makes us sad, hurt us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/in-fact-the-likeliest-reason-why-so-many-of-us-care-so-little-about/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [The world changes fast, and a lot of the old country folks have a hard time keeping up with it, and it makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-world-changes-fast-and-a-lot-of-the-old-country-folks-have-a-hard/)

[Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/)

> [Sometimes I just want to stay home, grab the remote turn the t.v on and eat as long as I can just to forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-just-want-to-stay-home-grab-the-remote-turn-the-t-v-on/)

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

> [It's hard for some people to let go because the person who makes them sad is also the person that makes them happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/it-s-hard-for-some-people-to-let-go-because-the-person-who-makes-them/)

[SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

> [It makes me sad when I see things that are just the same technology; you aren't passing the technology forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bre-pettis/it-makes-me-sad-when-i-see-things-that-are-just-the-same-technology/)

[Bre Pettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bre-pettis/)

> [I think I am becoming incapable of being too surprised. But it just makes me sad and sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-think-i-am-becoming-incapable-of-being-too-surprised-but-it-just/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

## More by David Bowie

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [No more free steps to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/no-more-free-steps-to-heaven/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I'm not sure whether it is me changing my mind, or whether I lie a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-not-sure-whether-it-is-me-changing-my-mind-or-whether-i-lie-a-lot/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I do some kind of work, whether writing or painting or recording, on a daily basis. And it's so essential that when I'm involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-do-some-kind-of-work-whether-writing-or-painting-or-recording-on-a/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [To not be modest about it, you'll find that with only a couple of exceptions, most of the musicians that I've worked with have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/to-not-be-modest-about-it-you-ll-find-that-with-only-a-couple-of/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I went mainstream in a major way with the song "Let's Dance." And what I found I had done was put a box around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-went-mainstream-in-a-major-way-with-the-song-let-s-dance-and-what-i/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [“Keep your 'lectric eye on me babe Put your ray gun to my head Press your space face close to mine, love Freak out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/keep-your-lectric-eye-on-me-babe-put-your-ray-gun-to-my-head-press/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I'm in awe of the universe, but I don't necessarily believe there's an intelligence or agent behind it. I do have a passion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-in-awe-of-the-universe-but-i-don-t-necessarily-believe-there-s-an/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

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[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [“My brain hurt like a warehouse It had no room to spare I had to cram so many things to store everything in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/my-brain-hurt-like-a-warehouse-it-had-no-room-to-spare-i-had-to-cram/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I suppose for me as an artist it wasn't always just about expressing my work; I really wanted, more than anything else, to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-suppose-for-me-as-an-artist-it-wasn-t-always-just-about-expressing/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [... And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/and-these-children-that-you-spit-on-as-they-try-to-change-their/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I think the first song I ever wrote ... was called "Can't Help Thinking About Me." That's an illuminating little piece, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-think-the-first-song-i-ever-wrote-was-called-can-t-help-thinking/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I've come to the realizations that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-ve-come-to-the-realizations-that-i-have-absolutely-no-idea-what-i-m/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I never really felt like a rock singer or a rock star or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-never-really-felt-like-a-rock-singer-or-a-rock-star-or-whatever/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

[Explore all 508 David Bowie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

## More Alive quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/)

[Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/)

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

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> [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/)

[Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/)

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

> [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/)

[James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/)

> [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/)

[Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/)

[Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/)

> [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

[Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/)

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