--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like being a foreigner. For me, to live…" description: "\"I like being a foreigner. For me, to live in California is very pleasant - I'm more comfortable not feeling a part of everything, not feeling responsib..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/eric-idle-3734_california_i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live_2002045.jpg" --- # I like being a foreigner. For me, to live in California is… ![“I like being a foreigner. For me, to live in California is very pleasant - I'm more comfortable not feeling a part of everything, not feeling responsible for the government or the roads or the health system.” quote by Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/eric-idle-3734_california_i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live_2002045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/eric-idle-3734_california_i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live_2002045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/eric-idle-3734_california_i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live_2002045.jpg) > “I like being a foreigner. For me, to live in California is very pleasant - I'm more comfortable not feeling a part of everything, not feeling responsible for the government or the roads or the health system.” [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living as an outsider can provide comfort by avoiding responsibility for collective systems. **In simple terms:** Outsider comfort avoids civic duty. Key Takeaway Balance personal comfort with civic engagement. Themes civic duty identity comfort Mood thoughtful critical Type social philosophical When to use this quote - expat life - urban living - public policy debates Key Concepts political philosophy social contract Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do you feel as a resident? - How does being an outsider affect your sense of belonging? A Different Perspective Detachment may lead to neglect of societal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-system/) ## Related quotes > [My first band, we wanted to be like Foreigner and Journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bonham/my-first-band-we-wanted-to-be-like-foreigner-and-journey/) [Jason Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bonham/) > [I've always felt like a foreigner wherever I've lived. I don't feel much towards my Italian or Scottish roots, although I do cook the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-conti/i-ve-always-felt-like-a-foreigner-wherever-i-ve-lived-i-don-t-feel/) [Tom Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-conti/) > [A person who speaks good English in New York sounds like a foreigner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-mason/a-person-who-speaks-good-english-in-new-york-sounds-like-a-foreigner/) [Jackie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-mason/) > [I always feel like a foreigner in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-skarsgard/i-always-feel-like-a-foreigner-in-america/) [Bill Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-skarsgard/) > [You think you're the foreigner here, and I'm the American, and I just look the other way while the President or somebody sends down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/you-think-you-re-the-foreigner-here-and-i-m-the-american-and-i-just/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I was going to be living there and I didn't want to sound like a foreigner all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mahoney/i-was-going-to-be-living-there-and-i-didn-t-want-to-sound-like-a/) [John Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mahoney/) > [I'm more interested in the diversity of people in New York. I like to be lost. I like to feel like a foreigner. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-huyghe/i-m-more-interested-in-the-diversity-of-people-in-new-york-i-like-to/) [Pierre Huyghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-huyghe/) > [I am an Indian. In fact, I feel like a foreigner when I go abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-gandhi/i-am-an-indian-in-fact-i-feel-like-a-foreigner-when-i-go-abroad/) [Sonia Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-gandhi/) > [A poor man is like a foreigner in his own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/a-poor-man-is-like-a-foreigner-in-his-own-country/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [People don't know what it's like being the foreigner until they are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-being-the-foreigner-until-they-are/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [“Traveling in other countries is especially fun because others often attribute your differences to the less-stigmatizing idea that you're like this only because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-john-carley/traveling-in-other-countries-is-especially-fun-because-others-often/) Michael John Carley > [I am very lucky to live in California, which is not only filled with very entrepreneurial people who don't wait around for success, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-am-very-lucky-to-live-in-california-which-is-not-only-filled-with/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [My mom quit her whole life and came to live with me in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-alaina/my-mom-quit-her-whole-life-and-came-to-live-with-me-in-california/) [Lauren Alaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-alaina/) > [When I was still in high school I knew I wanted to live in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tila-tequila/when-i-was-still-in-high-school-i-knew-i-wanted-to-live-in-california/) [Tila Tequila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tila-tequila/) > [When I was a kid, I always wanted to live in California because I liked skateboarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/when-i-was-a-kid-i-always-wanted-to-live-in-california-because-i/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) ## More by Eric Idle > [“Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it, life's a laugh and deat's a joke, it's true: You'll se it's all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/life-s-a-piece-of-shit-when-you-look-at-it-life-s-a-laugh-and-deat-s/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Having little money to spend was a valuable learning experience. My schooling also shaped my work ethic because while other children were listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/having-little-money-to-spend-was-a-valuable-learning-experience-my/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Americans like to think 'Python' is how English people really are. There is an element of truth to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/americans-like-to-think-python-is-how-english-people-really-are-there/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [ If you're famous, you have to \[be overly generous\], otherwise people say, "Eric Idle came in and only left me $4." I always tip… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/if-you-re-famous-you-have-to-be-overly-generous-otherwise-people-say/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [At least in America, you have freedom of speech, which is a good thing. It's just a question of whether you're allowed to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-in-america-you-have-freedom-of-speech-which-is-a-good-thing/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [You look just like you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/you-look-just-like-you/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Many years ago I also bought a house in Provence for about 70,000 francs. It had no electricity or running water, and no road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/many-years-ago-i-also-bought-a-house-in-provence-for-about-70-000/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [No day of my life passes without someone saying the words 'Monty Python' to me. It's not bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/no-day-of-my-life-passes-without-someone-saying-the-words-monty/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [“sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will make me cry by myself in a corner for hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-will-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-cry-by/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I believe in the separation of church and planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-church-and-planet/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I've got soggy thighs. It must be dinner time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-ve-got-soggy-thighs-it-must-be-dinner-time/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-one-way-of-measuring-the-freedom-of-any-society-is-the/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [The Minister of Transport issued this appeal to motorists: Can anyone give him a lift to Leicester?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/the-minister-of-transport-issued-this-appeal-to-motorists-can-anyone/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I think the special thing about Python is that it's a writers' commune. The writers are in charge. The writers decide what the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-think-the-special-thing-about-python-is-that-it-s-a-writers-commune/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [ There's no gap between the writer and the performer, which is what I think makes \[Monty\] Python unique. Five or six people who write… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/there-s-no-gap-between-the-writer-and-the-performer-which-is-what-i/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) [Explore all 122 Eric Idle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) ## More California quotes > [Everyone in California is from somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/everyone-in-california-is-from-somewhere-else/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [The Urban Literate Southern California Sub-Group of the Early Atomic Period has not yet produced a distinct body of folk music of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hinton/the-urban-literate-southern-california-sub-group-of-the-early-atomic/) Sam Hinton > [California is a place in which a boom mentality and a sense of Chekhovian loss meet in uneasy suspension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/california-is-a-place-in-which-a-boom-mentality-and-a-sense-of/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Many militarists would like to see California's votes vanish from the national electoral system, which would then become more Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/many-militarists-would-like-to-see-california-s-votes-vanish-from-the/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [When I started in California, people would say, 'Enterprise who?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-nicholson/when-i-started-in-california-people-would-say-enterprise-who/) [Pamela Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-nicholson/) > [Take one round-trip flight between New York and California, and you've generated about 20 percent of the greenhouse gases that your car emits over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/take-one-round-trip-flight-between-new-york-and-california-and-you-ve/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The D.C. playbook is obsolete. It's time for the people of California to bring the agenda to Washington, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/the-d-c-playbook-is-obsolete-it-s-time-for-the-people-of-california/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [While there is an attempt by the Trump people to say that California isn't really America. California certainly seems like America to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/while-there-is-an-attempt-by-the-trump-people-to-say-that-california/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [I'm from California, but my father, who passed away when I was young, was from Newark. When I was kid, we would go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-daly/i-m-from-california-but-my-father-who-passed-away-when-i-was-young/) [Carson Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-daly/) > [“God will break California from the surface of the continent like someone breaking off a piece of chocolate. It will become its own floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ruby/god-will-break-california-from-the-surface-of-the-continent-like/) [Laura Ruby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ruby/) > [You could have a hit in California that no one had heard of in Oklahoma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-jackson/you-could-have-a-hit-in-california-that-no-one-had-heard-of-in/) [Wanda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-jackson/) > [My first encounter with yoga was in 1969 with my older brother Doug. I was thirteen years old, and he was eighteen. He'd learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/my-first-encounter-with-yoga-was-in-1969-with-my-older-brother-doug-i/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) [Browse all 2,036 California quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like being a foreigner. For me, to live in California is very pleasant - I'm more comfortable not feeling a part of everything, not feeling responsible for the government or the roads or the health system.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Idle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live-in-california-is-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "California" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live-in-california-is-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/eric-idle-3734_california_i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live_2002045.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/eric-idle-3734_california_i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live_2002045.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/eric-idle-3734_california_i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live_2002045.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like being a foreigner. For me, to live in California is very pleasant - I'm more comfortable not feeling…” — Eric Idle", "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": "Eric Idle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like being a foreigner. For...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live-in-california-is-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-like-being-a-foreigner-for-me-to-live-in-california-is-very/#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 } } ] } ```