--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am what I am. Whatever it was that made…" description: "\"I am what I am. Whatever it was that made me what I am, I thought I should stay around and be that.\" — Dennis DeYoung" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/dennis-deyoung-5112_i-am_i-am-what-i-am-whatever-it-was-that-made_642891.jpg" --- # I am what I am. Whatever it was that made me what I am, I… ![“I am what I am. Whatever it was that made me what I am, I thought I should stay around and be that.” quote by Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/dennis-deyoung-5112_i-am_i-am-what-i-am-whatever-it-was-that-made_642891.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/dennis-deyoung-5112_i-am_i-am-what-i-am-whatever-it-was-that-made_642891.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/dennis-deyoung-5112_i-am_i-am-what-i-am-whatever-it-was-that-made_642891.jpg) > “I am what I am. Whatever it was that made me what I am, I thought I should stay around and be that.” [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A statement of self‑acceptance, embracing one’s identity and staying true to it. **In simple terms:** Accept yourself and stay true. Key Takeaway Embrace your identity. Themes self‑acceptance identity authenticity Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - relationships - career decisions - mental health Key Concepts existentialism self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How does staying the same limit you? - What parts of yourself do you truly accept? A Different Perspective May overlook growth opportunities by resisting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know how I could be so blind I thought he would stay and he thought I would leave guess its the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-marie/i-don-t-know-how-i-could-be-so-blind-i-thought-he-would-stay-and-he/) [Cassandra Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-marie/) > [Be empty of worrying. Think of who created thought! Why do you stay in prison When the door is so wide open?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-empty-of-worrying-think-of-who-created-thought-why-do-you-stay-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I wish it could stay like this forever, with the anticipation of everything. 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Thank goodness I'm not just a clam, or a ham, or a dusty jar of sour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/i-am-lucky-to-be-what-i-am-thank-goodness-i-m-not-just-a-clam-or-a/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Unity is important but we have to define it. If we are talking about uniformity, that is not helping anybody because our distinctions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/propaganda/unity-is-important-but-we-have-to-define-it-if-we-are-talking-about/) Propaganda > [Unless I am what I am and feel what I feel - as hard as I can and as honestly and truly as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/unless-i-am-what-i-am-and-feel-what-i-feel-as-hard-as-i-can-and-as/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [I am what I am, but I'm not a thief. 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People say I don't conform to the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-quentin/i-ve-always-refused-to-buy-into-the-idea-that-i-should-look-a-certain/) [Caroline Quentin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-quentin/) > [I was 'alone' amongst the animal kingdom and I required of myself to see what was truly going on inside me so that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-treadwell/i-was-alone-amongst-the-animal-kingdom-and-i-required-of-myself-to/) [Timothy Treadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-treadwell/) > [God alone is satisfied with what He is and can proclaim: "I am what I am." Unlike God, man strives with all his might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/god-alone-is-satisfied-with-what-he-is-and-can-proclaim-i-am-what-i/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I like to be myself, and I don't pretend. For instance, I don't dress up for occasions; I am what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virat-kohli/i-like-to-be-myself-and-i-don-t-pretend-for-instance-i-don-t-dress-up/) [Virat Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virat-kohli/) > [You can be vegetarian and eat fish. Its your choice, just say: I am what I am. There are no hardcore divisions anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/you-can-be-vegetarian-and-eat-fish-its-your-choice-just-say-i-am-what/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) ## More by Dennis DeYoung > [I'm proud of the body of work I was part of and I want people to enjoy it as long as they choose to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/i-m-proud-of-the-body-of-work-i-was-part-of-and-i-want-people-to/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [Winners are losers who got up and gave it one more try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/winners-are-losers-who-got-up-and-gave-it-one-more-try/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [Many musicals you can take and throw in the garbage can because no one took the time to write a song you can care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/many-musicals-you-can-take-and-throw-in-the-garbage-can-because-no/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [If you're in rock 'n' roll, you're not supposed to admit to liking theatre stuff, but I'm a big theatregoer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/if-you-re-in-rock-n-roll-you-re-not-supposed-to-admit-to-liking/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [I'm very proud of it. 'Hunchback' contains some of my favorite music I've ever written in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/i-m-very-proud-of-it-hunchback-contains-some-of-my-favorite-music-i/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [I was damn lucky to choose this profession. I had no idea when I started out that I was really an illusionist and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/i-was-damn-lucky-to-choose-this-profession-i-had-no-idea-when-i/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [If you think marriage is gonna be easy, don't do it because when there are children involved, you screw up the rest of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/if-you-think-marriage-is-gonna-be-easy-don-t-do-it-because-when-there/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [I just believed in 1979 that prog rock was finished. I just saw the handwriting on the wall. And I believed that if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/i-just-believed-in-1979-that-prog-rock-was-finished-i-just-saw-the/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [To be successful in your life, you have to be convinced in your own mind that you have the ability to accomplish your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/to-be-successful-in-your-life-you-have-to-be-convinced-in-your-own/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [How lucky am I? I'll go to Naperville and people will come up to me and thank me for coming to Naperville. That's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/how-lucky-am-i-i-ll-go-to-naperville-and-people-will-come-up-to-me/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [Technology has made music ultimately more democratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/technology-has-made-music-ultimately-more-democratic/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [If you pretend to be somebody that you're not when you write songs - and I did that on some of the early Styx…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/if-you-pretend-to-be-somebody-that-you-re-not-when-you-write-songs/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [Nobody can figure out why it does what it does to human beings. But there is no other art form greater than music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/nobody-can-figure-out-why-it-does-what-it-does-to-human-beings-but/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [I love Styx as much as I could love anything in my life. I started playing in the band when I was 14 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/i-love-styx-as-much-as-i-could-love-anything-in-my-life-i-started/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) > [I think the music business is as crass and as unrewarding as it has ever been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/i-think-the-music-business-is-as-crass-and-as-unrewarding-as-it-has/) [Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) [Explore all 103 Dennis DeYoung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/) ## More I am quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [It is only because of the love of masses that I am campaigning for the SP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaya-prada/it-is-only-because-of-the-love-of-masses-that-i-am-campaigning-for/) [Jaya Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaya-prada/) > [I am absolutely my own biggest critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/i-am-absolutely-my-own-biggest-critic/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) > [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/) > [Yes, I am happy that my work is recognised, and it is wonderful to be acknowledged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/yes-i-am-happy-that-my-work-is-recognised-and-it-is-wonderful-to-be/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [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 just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [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 a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-am-a-fighter-and-i-am-in-that-fight-and-i-have-to-make-sure-that-i/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) Browse all 22,613 I am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am what I am. 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