--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a real person. I'm a legend." description: "\"I'm not a real person. I'm a legend.\" — Jean-Michel Basquiat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jean-michel-basquiat-15294_legend_i-m-not-a-real-person-i-m-a-legend-24602_2460243.jpg" --- # I'm not a real person. I'm a legend. ![“I'm not a real person. I'm a legend.” quote by Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jean-michel-basquiat-15294_legend_i-m-not-a-real-person-i-m-a-legend-24602_2460243.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jean-michel-basquiat-15294_legend_i-m-not-a-real-person-i-m-a-legend-24602_2460243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jean-michel-basquiat-15294_legend_i-m-not-a-real-person-i-m-a-legend-24602_2460243.jpg) > “I'm not a real person. I'm a legend.” [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) ## 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 asserts a self‑identity that transcends ordinary existence, claiming iconic status. **In simple terms:** I am more than ordinary; I am iconic. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique impact. Themes identity legacy confidence Mood defiant proud Type motivational self‑affirmational When to use this quote - artist interviews - self‑promotion - public speaking Key Concepts self‑mythology personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑mythology affect personal growth? - What responsibilities come with being a 'legend'? A Different Perspective May be perceived as egoistic or detached from reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legend/) ## Related quotes > [When a person becomes a legend, the very thing that makes them human and knowable is killed off, so it's like being killed over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/when-a-person-becomes-a-legend-the-very-thing-that-makes-them-human/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [To be the first person to do anything, you're a legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-jordan/to-be-the-first-person-to-do-anything-you-re-a-legend/) [DeAndre Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-jordan/) > [If it's a role like this one, an actual live person, a legend, there's lots of material laid out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-strathairn/if-it-s-a-role-like-this-one-an-actual-live-person-a-legend-there-s/) [David Strathairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-strathairn/) > [Nobody knows anything about Shakespeare the person. It's all legend, it is all rumor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/nobody-knows-anything-about-shakespeare-the-person-it-s-all-legend-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I like to play people that are real, a real person, and then something that's interesting with that person. I think it's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/i-like-to-play-people-that-are-real-a-real-person-and-then-something/) [Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/) > [It's as if a psychological norm is being established whereby comments left online are part of a video game and not real life. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/it-s-as-if-a-psychological-norm-is-being-established-whereby-comments/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [I remember my grandmother's husband dying. But I think I was older. I think I was 7 or 8 when he died. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-remember-my-grandmother-s-husband-dying-but-i-think-i-was-older-i/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [You get to see the real side of a person only when they cross their limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-get-to-see-the-real-side-of-a-person-only-when-they-cross-their/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [You cant call a relationshp real,if its only one person struggling to keep it real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/you-cant-call-a-relationshp-real-if-its-only-one-person-struggling-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Smile may be of different style,but that which adorns the face of a real person is only an honest ONE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/smile-may-be-of-different-style-but-that-which-adorns-the-face-of-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That to me is what my idea of film acting should be. There shouldn't be any acting. You should just be watching a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/that-to-me-is-what-my-idea-of-film-acting-should-be-there-shouldn-t/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [At some point, you have to disconnect, if the obsession with playing a real person gets in the way of the movie at large.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/at-some-point-you-have-to-disconnect-if-the-obsession-with-playing-a/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [In the beginning, people watched me to hate on me. They thought Miranda was a real person. People just couldn't understand why this strange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-ballinger/in-the-beginning-people-watched-me-to-hate-on-me-they-thought-miranda/) [Colleen Ballinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-ballinger/) > [“Rex has never been unkind to me intentionally. It's just that he isn't a real person at all; he's just a few faculties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/rex-has-never-been-unkind-to-me-intentionally-it-s-just-that-he-isn-t/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“No one had ever left me so simultaneously relaxed and knotted up all at once (except maybe Rhett Butler, which doesn't count since he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/no-one-had-ever-left-me-so-simultaneously-relaxed-and-knotted-up-all/) [Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/) ## More by Jean-Michel Basquiat > [Some days I can't get an idea, and I think, 'Man, I'm just washed up,' but it's just a mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/some-days-i-can-t-get-an-idea-and-i-think-man-i-m-just-washed-up-but/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [I was a really lousy artist as a kid. Too abstract expressionist; or I'd draw a big ram's head, really messy. I'd never win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-was-a-really-lousy-artist-as-a-kid-too-abstract-expressionist-or-i/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [I am not a black artist, I am an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-am-not-a-black-artist-i-am-an-artist/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [Medicine men live in caves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/medicine-men-live-in-caves/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [Occasionally, when I get mad at a woman, I'll do some great, awful painting about her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/occasionally-when-i-get-mad-at-a-woman-i-ll-do-some-great-awful/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [“Most Young Kings Get Their Heads Cut Off”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/most-young-kings-get-their-heads-cut-off/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [Charles Saatchi has never liked my work at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/charles-saatchi-has-never-liked-my-work-at-all/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [SAMO as an end to to mindwash religion, nowhere politics and bogus philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/samo-as-an-end-to-to-mindwash-religion-nowhere-politics-and-bogus/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [I have done only two portraits: one of the artist Francesco Clemente and another of Andy Warhol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-have-done-only-two-portraits-one-of-the-artist-francesco-clemente/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [I wanted to build up a name for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-wanted-to-build-up-a-name-for-myself/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [I want to make paintings that look as if they were made by a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-want-to-make-paintings-that-look-as-if-they-were-made-by-a-child/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [Since I was seventeen I thought I might be a star. I'd think about all my heroes, Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix... I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/since-i-was-seventeen-i-thought-i-might-be-a-star-i-d-think-about-all/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [If I'm away from painting for a week, I get bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/if-i-m-away-from-painting-for-a-week-i-get-bored/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [I start a picture and I finish it. I don't think about art while I work. I try to think about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/i-start-a-picture-and-i-finish-it-i-don-t-think-about-art-while-i/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [If you wanna talk about influence, man, then you've got to realize that influence is not influence. It's simply someone's idea going through my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/if-you-wanna-talk-about-influence-man-then-you-ve-got-to-realize-that/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) [Explore all 43 Jean-Michel Basquiat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) ## More Legend quotes > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [“You will get your father's wealth one day but not his legacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-will-get-your-father-s-wealth-one-day-but-not-his-legacy/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“My father hasn’t told me about it but he showed me the straight path”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahmid-hassan-prohor/my-father-hasn-t-told-me-about-it-but-he-showed-me-the-straight-path/) [Fahmid Hassan Prohor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahmid-hassan-prohor/) > [It's a sport about risk and reward. It's a sport about becoming a legend. You look at guys that have stepped up on last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyron-woodley/it-s-a-sport-about-risk-and-reward-it-s-a-sport-about-becoming-a/) [Tyron Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyron-woodley/) > [I know there'll be comparisons, but I consider it an honor to be compared to Audrey Hepburn. She's a legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-oxenberg/i-know-there-ll-be-comparisons-but-i-consider-it-an-honor-to-be/) [Catherine Oxenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-oxenberg/) > [I'm a legend now. But I'll keep my feet on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oliveira/i-m-a-legend-now-but-i-ll-keep-my-feet-on-the-ground/) [Charles Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oliveira/) > [“George didn't do quiet or subtle. His big paws kicked up rocks as he stretched into his own version of a freight train.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kaniut-cobb/george-didn-t-do-quiet-or-subtle-his-big-paws-kicked-up-rocks-as-he/) [Lisa Kaniut Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kaniut-cobb/) > [No, I don't like legend. I mean, I don't like the category. And to begin with, to me, a legend is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/no-i-don-t-like-legend-i-mean-i-don-t-like-the-category-and-to-begin/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [Obviously, Fred Astaire was a legend. I've tried to copy some of his movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/obviously-fred-astaire-was-a-legend-i-ve-tried-to-copy-some-of-his/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [It puts a smile on my face to be compared to a legend. Year by year, as you play basketball, you've got to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/it-puts-a-smile-on-my-face-to-be-compared-to-a-legend-year-by-year-as/) [Lebron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [“love Dora too!” Great, I’m a legend with 5 year olds!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-campbell/love-dora-too-great-i-m-a-legend-with-5-year-olds/) [Bill Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-campbell/) > [I want to build to that mogul, legendary level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-nas-x/i-want-to-build-to-that-mogul-legendary-level/) [Lil Nas X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-nas-x/) > [I am not saying Gary Neville is a nobody. He has accomplished a lot in his life, he is a legend. But as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marko-arnautovic/i-am-not-saying-gary-neville-is-a-nobody-he-has-accomplished-a-lot-in/) [Marko Arnautovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marko-arnautovic/) > [Jackie Robinson is a true legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/jackie-robinson-is-a-true-legend/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) [Browse all 531 Legend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not a real person. 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