--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Portland hardly got to have an identity…" description: "\"Portland hardly got to have an identity before that identity became a joke - I live in a joke. Seattle at least got to wear out its identity before it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/isaac-brock-11671_identity_portland-hardly-got-to-have-an-identity_852166.jpg" --- # Portland hardly got to have an identity before that… ![“Portland hardly got to have an identity before that identity became a joke - I live in a joke. Seattle at least got to wear out its identity before it became a joke.” quote by Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/isaac-brock-11671_identity_portland-hardly-got-to-have-an-identity_852166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/isaac-brock-11671_identity_portland-hardly-got-to-have-an-identity_852166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/isaac-brock-11671_identity_portland-hardly-got-to-have-an-identity_852166.jpg) > “Portland hardly got to have an identity before that identity became a joke - I live in a joke. Seattle at least got to wear out its identity before it became a joke.” [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker notes Portland's identity was mocked before it formed, while Seattle fully expressed its identity before becoming a joke. **In simple terms:** Cities' identities become jokes. Key Takeaway Recognize evolving cultural narratives. Themes urban culture identity humor Mood analytical wry Type cultural societal When to use this quote - urban planning - media commentary - community events Key Concepts city branding social perception Questions to Reflect On - How does humor shape city reputation? - Can identity be reclaimed positively? A Different Perspective Self‑deprecating humor can obscure genuine issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Portland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portland/) [Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seattle/) ## Related quotes > [I was living down in this awful little redneck town in Oregon, and everyone else was living in Seattle, so we rented a house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-was-living-down-in-this-awful-little-redneck-town-in-oregon-and/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [I collect old Coon Chicken Inn memorabilia. I collect black memorabilia, like old minstrel posters. It was a real place. There was one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/i-collect-old-coon-chicken-inn-memorabilia-i-collect-black/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) > [I've been everywhere. I've been to New Jersey, New York, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Portland, Seattle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-doncic/i-ve-been-everywhere-i-ve-been-to-new-jersey-new-york-los-angeles/) [Luka Doncic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-doncic/) > [At this point, I feel like I have roots in a lot of places. I have friends who have put down roots, in Seattle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/at-this-point-i-feel-like-i-have-roots-in-a-lot-of-places-i-have/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [Cities like Portland, Seattle, and Long Beach, which have made these investments in their infrastructure, are seeing not only health advantages, but also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sollee/cities-like-portland-seattle-and-long-beach-which-have-made-these/) [Ben Sollee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sollee/) > [There's a food revolution going on throughout the country. And it doesn't matter if you're down south, up north in Maine, if you're out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/there-s-a-food-revolution-going-on-throughout-the-country-and-it/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [I didn't mean to live in Portland. It was kind of an accident - I mean, the equivalent of my car breaking down there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-didn-t-mean-to-live-in-portland-it-was-kind-of-an-accident-i-mean/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [Whether it's in in livability, transportation, or the environment, Portland is always leading the country. We have more to do before we achieve our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-blumenauer/whether-it-s-in-in-livability-transportation-or-the-environment/) [Earl Blumenauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-blumenauer/) > [ Traditionally, when we lived here \[in Portland\], we have a record player in the living room, and there's lots of stuff playing, all different… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/traditionally-when-we-lived-here-in-portland-we-have-a-record-player/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [Something about Portland just really resonated with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/something-about-portland-just-really-resonated-with-me/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [The City of Portland, our police bureau, and our employees do not cooperate with ICE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-city-of-portland-our-police-bureau-and-our-employees-do-not/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I like to think Portland and L.A. are not rivals; they're cousins. As cities on the West Coast, they're distinct in their own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-like-to-think-portland-and-l-a-are-not-rivals-they-re-cousins-as/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [Summer explodes into Portland. In early June the heat was there but not the color--the green were still pale and tentative, the morning had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/summer-explodes-into-portland-in-early-june-the-heat-was-there-but/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Portland is a pretty magnificent place to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leni-zumas/portland-is-a-pretty-magnificent-place-to-live/) [Leni Zumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leni-zumas/) > [Once my family grew bigger I loved Portland more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-wallace/once-my-family-grew-bigger-i-loved-portland-more/) [Rasheed Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-wallace/) ## More by Isaac Brock > [I didn't mean to live in Portland. It was kind of an accident - I mean, the equivalent of my car breaking down there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-didn-t-mean-to-live-in-portland-it-was-kind-of-an-accident-i-mean/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [I just like free stuff that's illegal to acquire. Any of it. Even if it's not fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-just-like-free-stuff-that-s-illegal-to-acquire-any-of-it-even-if-it/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [Pulled the scabs off of regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/pulled-the-scabs-off-of-regrets/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [I toy around with the whole Biblical thing, just as amazing characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-toy-around-with-the-whole-biblical-thing-just-as-amazing-characters/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [I don't much like things to go by somebody's name, like the 'Bob Jones Group Jam Band.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-don-t-much-like-things-to-go-by-somebody-s-name-like-the-bob-jones/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [The universe is shaped exactly like the earth if you go straight long enough you'll end up where you were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/the-universe-is-shaped-exactly-like-the-earth-if-you-go-straight-long/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [There were so many dreams that there was no time to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/there-were-so-many-dreams-that-there-was-no-time-to-sleep/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [I remember the last time the Grateful Dead played in Seattle, at the Seattle Center. I was living there, and after the show, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-remember-the-last-time-the-grateful-dead-played-in-seattle-at-the/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [Life is too fucking short to play or hear freebird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/life-is-too-fucking-short-to-play-or-hear-freebird/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [I'm gonna look out the window of my color tv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-m-gonna-look-out-the-window-of-my-color-tv/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [Every year a crazy gnome comes around and he looks at all your stuff and he laughs at you. Crazy gnome is no ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/every-year-a-crazy-gnome-comes-around-and-he-looks-at-all-your-stuff/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [How many political idealists does it take to change a lightbulb? Political Idealists cant change shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/how-many-political-idealists-does-it-take-to-change-a-lightbulb/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [Are you dead or are you sleeping? God I sure hope you are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/are-you-dead-or-are-you-sleeping-god-i-sure-hope-you-are-dead/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [White lies flew off my yellow teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/white-lies-flew-off-my-yellow-teeth/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [“If this were the Make-A-Wish Foundation and you were going to die in twenty minutes, like just long enough to play "Freebird", we still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/if-this-were-the-make-a-wish-foundation-and-you-were-going-to-die-in/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) [Explore all 58 Isaac Brock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) ## More Identity quotes > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-the-moment-then-of-man-s-victory-over-nature-we-find-the-whole/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [“Self-realization or self-knowing or awakening is about knowing/ becoming conscious of our true nature and living in harmony with the universe in an ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vazhakunnathu/self-realization-or-self-knowing-or-awakening-is-about-knowing/) [Thomas Vazhakunnathu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vazhakunnathu/) > [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Why were there no words that spoke positively about being concerned about the self? Why was there only negative connotation in terms like "selfish",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-dalton/why-were-there-no-words-that-spoke-positively-about-being-concerned/) A.J. Dalton [Browse all 11,949 Identity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Portland hardly got to have an identity before that identity became a joke - I live in a joke. 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