--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only reason I am a star is because of…" description: "\"The only reason I am a star is because of my repression. Nothing else would have driven me through all that if I was 'normal'.\" — John Lennon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/john-lennon-322_being-different_the-only-reason-i-am-a-star-is-because-o_619056.jpg" --- # The only reason I am a star is because of my repression… ![“The only reason I am a star is because of my repression. Nothing else would have driven me through all that if I was 'normal'.” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/john-lennon-322_being-different_the-only-reason-i-am-a-star-is-because-o_619056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/john-lennon-322_being-different_the-only-reason-i-am-a-star-is-because-o_619056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/john-lennon-322_being-different_the-only-reason-i-am-a-star-is-because-o_619056.jpg) > “The only reason I am a star is because of my repression. Nothing else would have driven me through all that if I was 'normal'.” [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling misunderstood fuels artistic drive; repression can become creative catalyst **In simple terms:** Repression can inspire achievement Key Takeaway Channel frustration into creative energy Themes creativity identity resilience Mood introspective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - artistic expression - personal growth - overcoming adversity Key Concepts psychology self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How does repression shape your ambitions? - Can pressure be productive? A Different Perspective May overlook health impacts of repression ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-different/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-star-5012073/) [Repression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repression/) [Repression Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repression-driven-5012072/) [Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star/) [Star Repression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star-repression-5012071/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes, I feel the reason I have become a star beyond my films is that I am politically incorrect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/sometimes-i-feel-the-reason-i-have-become-a-star-beyond-my-films-is/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [When I started, rock and roll itself was the basic revolution to people of my age and situation. We needed something loud and clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/when-i-started-rock-and-roll-itself-was-the-basic-revolution-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [You'd have to give people free rein to attack the local councils or to destroy the school authorities, like the students who break up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/you-d-have-to-give-people-free-rein-to-attack-the-local-councils-or/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [All kids draw and write poetry and everything, and some of us last until we're about eighteen, but most drop off at about twelve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/all-kids-draw-and-write-poetry-and-everything-and-some-of-us-last/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I always was a rebel...but on the other hand, I wanted to be loved and accepted...and not just be a loudmouth, lunatic, poet, musician.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-always-was-a-rebel-but-on-the-other-hand-i-wanted-to-be-loved-and/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I was different, I was always different. Why didn't anybody notice me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-was-different-i-was-always-different-why-didn-t-anybody-notice-me/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [People like me are aware of their so-called genius at ten, eight, nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/people-like-me-are-aware-of-their-so-called-genius-at-ten-eight-nine-2/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“Often, her mate is the child of a narcissist, already indoctrinated to regard exploitation and disregard as love. Others lured by the narcissistic aura…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elan-golomb/often-her-mate-is-the-child-of-a-narcissist-already-indoctrinated-to/) [Elan Golomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elan-golomb/) > [What makes power hold good, what makes it accepted, is simply the fact that it doesn't only weigh on us as a force that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/what-makes-power-hold-good-what-makes-it-accepted-is-simply-the-fact/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [“We could not be fulfilled if we weren't inauthentic some of the time—inauthentic, that is, in relation to such things as our passing desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-could-not-be-fulfilled-if-we-weren-t-inauthentic-some-of-the-time/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [One mechanism of repression is the grand jury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/one-mechanism-of-repression-is-the-grand-jury/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/) [Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/) > [ “repression, which “proceeds from the self-respect of the ego … \[the person\] has set up an ideal in himself by which he measures his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sandler/repression-which-proceeds-from-the-self-respect-of-the-ego-the-person/) [Joseph Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sandler/) > [Repression will provoke rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-williamson/repression-will-provoke-rebellion/) [Hugh Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-williamson/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## More by John Lennon > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Today's folk song is rock and roll. Although it happened to emanate from America, that's not really important in the end because we wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/today-s-folk-song-is-rock-and-roll-although-it-happened-to-emanate/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. ... Think peace, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-want-to-get-peace-you-can-get-it-as-soon-as-you-like-if-we-all/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The reason why kids are crazy is because nobody can face the responsibility of bringing them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-reason-why-kids-are-crazy-is-because-nobody-can-face-the/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Love is like a flower - you've got to let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/love-is-like-a-flower-you-ve-got-to-let-it-grow/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) [Explore all 681 John Lennon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## More Being different quotes > [You are no mistake. What makes you different is what makes you special, unique, original. You are a MASTERPIECE, a PIECE of the MASTER!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-griffin/you-are-no-mistake-what-makes-you-different-is-what-makes-you-special/) [Kenneth W Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-griffin/) > [Just because someone is different from yourself does not mean you should treat them badly. What you don't understand is not to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-bognar/just-because-someone-is-different-from-yourself-does-not-mean-you/) [Jenna Bognar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-bognar/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [You're trying too HARD to convince me that you're a TRUE friend & DEEP Down Inside you know you're not but you stick around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nisha-marie/you-re-trying-too-hard-to-convince-me-that-you-re-a-true-friend-deep/) [Ta'Nisha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nisha-marie/) > [I suppose what I look for most in a part, other than it being different than the part before, is: Does he interest me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-fox/i-suppose-what-i-look-for-most-in-a-part-other-than-it-being/) [Freddie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-fox/) > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-one-of-us-is-in-the-cosmic-perspective-precious-if-a-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You all laugh because I am different. I laugh because you are all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-all-laugh-because-i-am-different-i-laugh-because-you-are-all-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we are lucky enough to have something that makes us different from everybody else, dont change. Uniqueness is priceless. In this crazy world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-are-lucky-enough-to-have-something-that-makes-us-different-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always liked the idea of being different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-different/) [MO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo/) > [Don't be afraid to be different. Make your differences into advantages. It can and will work for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-to-be-different-make-your-differences-into-advantages/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tomorrow can be better or worse but will never be same as today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/tomorrow-can-be-better-or-worse-but-will-never-be-same-as-today/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [It takes a real man to love you differently from the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lita/it-takes-a-real-man-to-love-you-differently-from-the-rest/) [Lita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lita/) > [Sometimes being different is not going to be the most popular thing. But you have to be confident in you and what you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delisha-milton-jones/sometimes-being-different-is-not-going-to-be-the-most-popular-thing/) [DeLisha Milton-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delisha-milton-jones/) > [We must each learn to feel comfortable in our own uniqueness by rising above the fear of being wrong and the aversion to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-must-each-learn-to-feel-comfortable-in-our-own-uniqueness-by/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) [Browse all 607 Being different quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-different/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only reason I am a star is because of my repression. 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