--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess I've always had such an identity…" description: "\"I guess I've always had such an identity crisis when it comes to other people's understanding of me. I don't feel it in myself but from an outsider's p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/jamie-lidell-18706_argument_i-guess-i-ve-always-had-such-an-identity_1741756.jpg" --- # I guess I've always had such an identity crisis when it… ![“I guess I've always had such an identity crisis when it comes to other people's understanding of me. I don't feel it in myself but from an outsider's point of view, I can see they must be thinking, "Who the hell does this guy think he is?" But recently I've been thinking, okay, a white guy can't…” quote by Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/jamie-lidell-18706_argument_i-guess-i-ve-always-had-such-an-identity_1741756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/jamie-lidell-18706_argument_i-guess-i-ve-always-had-such-an-identity_1741756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/jamie-lidell-18706_argument_i-guess-i-ve-always-had-such-an-identity_1741756.jpg) > “I guess I've always had such an identity crisis when it comes to other people's understanding of me. I don't feel it in myself but from an outsider's point of view, I can see they must be thinking, "Who the hell does this guy think he is?" But recently I've been thinking, okay, a white guy can't sing soul, but would a black person be made exempt from singing opera because it's not a tradition that belongs to them? It's the same kind of argument.” [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) ## 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 experiences identity confusion, questioning how societal expectations shape perceptions of race and artistic expression. **In simple terms:** Identity is shaped by others’ views and cultural stereotypes. Key Takeaway Question stereotypes about race and artistic ability. Themes identity race stereotypes artistic expression self-perception Mood thoughtful critical introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Music performance - public perception - personal reflection Key Concepts Cultural expectations identity crisis racial dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do societal expectations influence your self‑identity? - Can art transcend racial stereotypes? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can limit artistic freedom and personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-crisis/) [Outsider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outsider/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't feel that so much as an outsider when I started writing; I've felt that way all my life. I don't know, man;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-didn-t-feel-that-so-much-as-an-outsider-when-i-started-writing-i-ve/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I can see that in retrospect but I guess I've always had such an identity crisis when it comes to other people's understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-can-see-that-in-retrospect-but-i-guess-i-ve-always-had-such-an/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [“It taught me that it is easier to be an insider as an outsider than to be an outsider as an insider. If a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/it-taught-me-that-it-is-easier-to-be-an-insider-as-an-outsider-than/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [If I ever found a place where I belonged, that in itself would be an identity crisis to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitski/if-i-ever-found-a-place-where-i-belonged-that-in-itself-would-be-an/) [Mitski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitski/) > [To change man, the audience by which he judges himself must be changed. A man is defined by his audience: by the people, institutions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/to-change-man-the-audience-by-which-he-judges-himself-must-be-changed/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [There was no identity crisis in the life of Jesus Christ. He knew who He was. He knew where He had come from, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/there-was-no-identity-crisis-in-the-life-of-jesus-christ-he-knew-who/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [The self divided is precisely where the self is authentically located. . . We all have identity crises because a single identity is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-self-divided-is-precisely-where-the-self-is-authentically-located/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [As far as the industries go, in the North, they think I'm a South Indian actress; down South, I've always been thought of as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamannaah/as-far-as-the-industries-go-in-the-north-they-think-i-m-a-south/) [Tamannaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamannaah/) > [I did community theater and kids programs at professional theaters and plays at school and voice lessons for seven years. I stopped because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavi-gevinson/i-did-community-theater-and-kids-programs-at-professional-theaters/) [Tavi Gevinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavi-gevinson/) > [I've suffered from an identity crisis my entire life. It's why I went into acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-ve-suffered-from-an-identity-crisis-my-entire-life-it-s-why-i-went/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“IF A PROBLEM PERSISTS for generations, it is no longer a crisis. It’s a condition. The identity crisis facing our faith, our families, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/if-a-problem-persists-for-generations-it-is-no-longer-a-crisis-it-s-a/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [The issue of "who we are" has been an ongoing one. It's part of the ongoing identity crisis of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-l-eck/the-issue-of-who-we-are-has-been-an-ongoing-one-it-s-part-of-the/) [Diana L. Eck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-l-eck/) > [Error ... is less an intellectual problem than an existential one - a crisis not in what we know, but in who we are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/error-is-less-an-intellectual-problem-than-an-existential-one-a/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [Soon after the financial crisis of 2008, I was at a meeting in Washington with a group of U.S. senators. They had invited me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-diamond/soon-after-the-financial-crisis-of-2008-i-was-at-a-meeting-in/) [Bob Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-diamond/) > [My genuine belief is that if we can get through the eurozone crisis from a political point of view, we've got a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/my-genuine-belief-is-that-if-we-can-get-through-the-eurozone-crisis/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) ## More by Jamie Lidell > [Improvisation has been with me since I was a kid, and, taking a selfish pleasure from that, I just thought, "What the hell. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/improvisation-has-been-with-me-since-i-was-a-kid-and-taking-a-selfish/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [I just throw myself into a mad frenzy, whip up a storm and see what comes through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-just-throw-myself-into-a-mad-frenzy-whip-up-a-storm-and-see-what/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [I've always loved improvising. That's how I write songs. Creativity has an improvised element to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-ve-always-loved-improvising-that-s-how-i-write-songs-creativity-has/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [I really wanted to maintain that bedroom philosophy to creating stuff. I don't believe the hype; I think a great record is because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-really-wanted-to-maintain-that-bedroom-philosophy-to-creating-stuff/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [I made an instrument which I'm really happy about, because I always wanted to have a machine that did this so once I established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-made-an-instrument-which-i-m-really-happy-about-because-i-always/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [I do my best to make music spontaneously. It's very personal in a way. It's really a direct connection between me and anyone who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-do-my-best-to-make-music-spontaneously-it-s-very-personal-in-a-way/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [I really wanted to maintain that bedroom philosophy to creating stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-really-wanted-to-maintain-that-bedroom-philosophy-to-creating-stuff-2/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [People can rock together, people can do great things together, and that's what you love when you're working with characters and it's all going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/people-can-rock-together-people-can-do-great-things-together-and-that/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [I'm not the kind of guy who likes to rush things through. I like to take my time and finish when I'm finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-m-not-the-kind-of-guy-who-likes-to-rush-things-through-i-like-to/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [All kinds of music comes out that I'm not prepared for. Some of it is good, some of it rubbish, but I kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/all-kinds-of-music-comes-out-that-i-m-not-prepared-for-some-of-it-is/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [I do really enjoy having a crowd of people out to see me. They really motivate me. I feel really lucky they've come down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-do-really-enjoy-having-a-crowd-of-people-out-to-see-me-they-really/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [There's very much a domino effect when I'm playing. In fact, that's a good way of putting it. I'm trying to topple all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/there-s-very-much-a-domino-effect-when-i-m-playing-in-fact-that-s-a/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [If I don't keep my music varied I go a bit stir crazy, you know? If I don't have the opportunity to jump genres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/if-i-don-t-keep-my-music-varied-i-go-a-bit-stir-crazy-you-know-if-i/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [The layering of sound is by no means a two-dimensional process. Even though I've been doing it for a number of years, the diversity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/the-layering-of-sound-is-by-no-means-a-two-dimensional-process-even/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [Improvisation is risky. I like that. Another practical reason for that is that you have to go out and play every day on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/improvisation-is-risky-i-like-that-another-practical-reason-for-that/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) [Explore all 34 Jamie Lidell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) ## More Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. 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They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. 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