---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never once said, This is not who I am…"
description: "\"“I never once said, This is not who I am. Because, maybe, I didn't know who I was, so I just let someone else tell me.”\" — Eric Kahn Gale"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/eric-kahn-gale-69082_quote_i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-b_1484516.jpg"
---

#  I never once said, This is not who I am. Because, maybe, I…

![“I never once said, This is not who I am. Because, maybe, I didn't know who I was, so I just let someone else tell me.” quote by Eric Kahn Gale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/eric-kahn-gale-69082_quote_i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-b_1484516.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/eric-kahn-gale-69082_quote_i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-b_1484516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/eric-kahn-gale-69082_quote_i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-b_1484516.jpg)

> ““I never once said, This is not who I am. Because, maybe, I didn't know who I was, so I just let someone else tell me.””

[Eric Kahn Gale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kahn-gale/)

## About This Quote

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

Identity is fluid; without self‑knowledge, we may let others define us, leading to inauthentic living.

**In simple terms:** Identity changes; self‑knowledge matters.

Key Takeaway

Seek personal understanding before external labels.

Themes

identity self‑knowledge authenticity

Mood

introspective motivational

Type

philosophical self‑help

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- relationships
- creative work
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- Who defines you?
- What steps reveal your true self?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on others can cause loss of agency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Didn Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-know/) [Let Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-tell/) [Maybe Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-didn-242759/) [Said Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-maybe/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/)

## Related quotes

> [Maybe you didn't know what people thought of you because they themselves didn't know what they thought of you. Maybe you didn't give us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/maybe-you-didn-t-know-what-people-thought-of-you-because-they/)

[Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/)

> [Maybe I didn't always know what I was missing, but it was you. Always you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/maybe-i-didn-t-always-know-what-i-was-missing-but-it-was-you-always/)

[Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/)

> [“Never let anyone tell you, your Black is not beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/never-let-anyone-tell-you-your-black-is-not-beautiful/)

[Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/)

> [Whatever you have as a dream, don't let anyone tell you it can't happen; give it your all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/whatever-you-have-as-a-dream-don-t-let-anyone-tell-you-it-can-t/)

[Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/)

> [I let me down. Tell me why I keep tryin' stay around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pixie-lott/i-let-me-down-tell-me-why-i-keep-tryin-stay-around/)

[Pixie Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pixie-lott/)

> [“Maybe he didn’t choose me because he only liked the idea of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thought-catalog/maybe-he-didn-t-choose-me-because-he-only-liked-the-idea-of-me/)

[Thought Catalog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thought-catalog/)

> [Maybe I didn't treat you Quite as good as I should have Maybe I didn't love you Quite as often as I could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/maybe-i-didn-t-treat-you-quite-as-good-as-i-should-have-maybe-i-didn/)

[Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/)

> [“Maybe you didn’t brush your teeth enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-quinn/maybe-you-didn-t-brush-your-teeth-enough/)

[Meghan Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-quinn/)

> [“Maybe she didn’t do something big. Maybe she just told someone something.” Frank looked over at me, more serious now. “Like what?” I shrugged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-matson/maybe-she-didn-t-do-something-big-maybe-she-just-told-someone/)

[Morgan Matson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-matson/)

> [“Maybe I didn’t want to let you in,” she said. "Yeah, well, right back at ya, honey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/maybe-i-didn-t-want-to-let-you-in-she-said-yeah-well-right-back-at-ya/)

[Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/)

> [“Maybe they didn't make vampires out of ugly people. Or maybe ugly people just didn't want to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-they-didn-t-make-vampires-out-of-ugly-people-or-maybe-ugly/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Maybe we didn't even have a chance. The message of American Pop Art was so powerful and so optimistic. But it was also very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/maybe-we-didn-t-even-have-a-chance-the-message-of-american-pop-art/)

[Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/)

> [Maybe it didn't turn out like I planned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/maybe-it-didn-t-turn-out-like-i-planned/)

[Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/)

> [Maybe I didn't have the childhood people think you should have, but I still went through the ages; I was still a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/maybe-i-didn-t-have-the-childhood-people-think-you-should-have-but-i/)

[Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/)

> [I saw a fleet of fishing boats...I flew down almost touching the craft and yelled at them, asking if I was on the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/i-saw-a-fleet-of-fishing-boats-i-flew-down-almost-touching-the-craft/)

[Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/)

## More by Eric Kahn Gale

> [“The scariest thing about the world is knowing it goes on when you're not there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kahn-gale/the-scariest-thing-about-the-world-is-knowing-it-goes-on-when-you-re/)

[Eric Kahn Gale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kahn-gale/)

> [“And stop calling people gay. I don't even know why that's an insult. There are real gay people in the world, you know, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kahn-gale/and-stop-calling-people-gay-i-don-t-even-know-why-that-s-an-insult/)

[Eric Kahn Gale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kahn-gale/)

> [“Because," I said, "they invented the entire country you're living in. They made it up. You can just sit back because they spent their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kahn-gale/because-i-said-they-invented-the-entire-country-you-re-living-in-they/)

[Eric Kahn Gale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kahn-gale/)

[Explore all 4 Eric Kahn Gale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kahn-gale/)

## More Tell quotes

> [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Rule number something or other -- never tell anybody anything unless you're going to get something better in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/rule-number-something-or-other-never-tell-anybody-anything-unless-you/)

[Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/)

> [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

> [You want me to do something... tell me I can't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-want-me-to-do-something-tell-me-i-can-t-do-it/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [We can never tell what is in store for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-can-never-tell-what-is-in-store-for-us/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [If You Don't Tell Yourself You Are Beautiful, Who Is?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-freshie/if-you-don-t-tell-yourself-you-are-beautiful-who-is/)

[Ms\_Freshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ms-freshie/)

> [I always want to surprise audiences and tell stories that are entertaining and challenging at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-always-want-to-surprise-audiences-and-tell-stories-that-are/)

[Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/)

> [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/)

[Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/)

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [You can never tell when a commercial space venture will suddenly become viable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/you-can-never-tell-when-a-commercial-space-venture-will-suddenly/)

[Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/)

> [I've had people call me and tell me, 'You've given me courage.' It's fantastic... it's heart-warming to know you can be a ray of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kubra-sait/i-ve-had-people-call-me-and-tell-me-you-ve-given-me-courage-it-s/)

[Kubra Sait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kubra-sait/)

> [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/)

[Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/)

> [Don't let other people tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/don-t-let-other-people-tell-you-who-you-are/)

[Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/)

> [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/)

[Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/)

[Browse all 6,348 Tell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I never once said, This is not who I am. Because, maybe, I didn't know who I was, so I just let someone else tell me.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eric Kahn Gale"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kahn-gale/i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-because-maybe-i-didn-t-know/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Tell"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kahn-gale/i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-because-maybe-i-didn-t-know/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/eric-kahn-gale-69082_quote_i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-b_1484516.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/eric-kahn-gale-69082_quote_i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-b_1484516.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/eric-kahn-gale-69082_quote_i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-b_1484516.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never once said, This is not who I am. Because, maybe, I didn't know who I was, so I just let someone else…” — Eric Kahn Gale",
                "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 Kahn Gale",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kahn-gale/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I never once said, This is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kahn-gale/i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-because-maybe-i-didn-t-know/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kahn-gale/i-never-once-said-this-is-not-who-i-am-because-maybe-i-didn-t-know/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
