--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn’t know. I feel sometimes…" description: "\"“I didn’t know. I feel sometimes like…there are all these rules. Just to be a person. You know? You’re supposed to carry a shoulder bag, not a backpack..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/leila-sales-7674_life_i-didn-t-know-i-feel-sometimes-like-ther_1088730.jpg" --- # I didn’t know. I feel sometimes like…there are all these… ![“I didn’t know. I feel sometimes like…there are all these rules. Just to be a person. You know? You’re supposed to carry a shoulder bag, not a backpack. You’re supposed to wear headbands, or you’re not supposed to wear headbands. It’s okay to describe yourself as likeable, but it’s not okay to…” quote by Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/leila-sales-7674_life_i-didn-t-know-i-feel-sometimes-like-ther_1088730.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/leila-sales-7674_life_i-didn-t-know-i-feel-sometimes-like-ther_1088730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/leila-sales-7674_life_i-didn-t-know-i-feel-sometimes-like-ther_1088730.jpg) > ““I didn’t know. I feel sometimes like…there are all these rules. Just to be a person. You know? You’re supposed to carry a shoulder bag, not a backpack. You’re supposed to wear headbands, or you’re not supposed to wear headbands. It’s okay to describe yourself as likeable, but it’s not okay to describe yourself as eloquent. You can sit in the front of the school bus, but you can’t sit in the middle. You’re not supposed to be with a boy, even when he wants you to. I didn’t know that. There are so many rules, and they don’t make any sense, and I just can’t learn them all”” [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal expectations impose confusing rules on identity, causing frustration and self-doubt. **In simple terms:** Rules about identity feel arbitrary and confusing. Key Takeaway Question and define your own identity beyond imposed norms. Themes identity conformity self‑discovery Mood conflicted hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - school environment - family expectations - media influence - personal reflection Key Concepts social norms gender roles Questions to Reflect On - What rules have you internalized that don’t serve you? - How can you challenge restrictive expectations? A Different Perspective Rigid norms can limit authentic self‑expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Describe yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/describe-yourself/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Rules of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't have boundaries when I was growing up. I knew the difference between right and wrong, and all the things a kid needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-combs/i-didn-t-have-boundaries-when-i-was-growing-up-i-knew-the-difference/) [Jessi Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-combs/) > [When I was a kid, I wanted to be a boy. I really had gender issues. I really thought I was supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/when-i-was-a-kid-i-wanted-to-be-a-boy-i-really-had-gender-issues-i/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [“There are dangers everywhere, I wanted to explain to her. On the school bus, in the cafeteria, at Start, inside me. No parent -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/there-are-dangers-everywhere-i-wanted-to-explain-to-her-on-the-school/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [We don't really like rules. We think, in some way, they are an infringement of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/we-don-t-really-like-rules-we-think-in-some-way-they-are-an/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [I had my hair down for a long time. I shaved my head, you know, a couple of years ago. And, then, I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-wilson/i-had-my-hair-down-for-a-long-time-i-shaved-my-head-you-know-a-couple/) [Cindy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-wilson/) > [Rules are really weird things, aren't they? I feel like the more I do something, the more I see through rules. 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It's against the rules of surviving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/i-ve-never-felt-like-this-before-with-anyone-it-s-against-the-rules/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [If you don't like their rules, whose would you use?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brown/if-you-don-t-like-their-rules-whose-would-you-use/) [Charlie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brown/) > [“It's like the rules switch for a beach and everyone suddenly knows how to behave like an advanced human”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-lane/it-s-like-the-rules-switch-for-a-beach-and-everyone-suddenly-knows/) [Dakota Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-lane/) > [I just like playing with makeup and clothes - so I really don't feel like there are rules, and if there are rules, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-just-like-playing-with-makeup-and-clothes-so-i-really-don-t-feel/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [I don't like routine and I don't like rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-mcelligott/i-don-t-like-routine-and-i-don-t-like-rules/) [Dominique McElligott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-mcelligott/) ## More by Leila Sales > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Anyone who said I believe in you obviously didn't know me very well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/anyone-who-said-i-believe-in-you-obviously-didn-t-know-me-very-well/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“I am a good person. I like myself the way I am. Many people love and care about me. I have a purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/i-am-a-good-person-i-like-myself-the-way-i-am-many-people-love-and/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/those-who-do-not-learn-from-the-past-are-doomed-to-repeat-it/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“It was a ridiculous question. Did I \_love\_ Char? Did I feel about Char the same way I feel about the Beatles, string instruments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/it-was-a-ridiculous-question-did-i-love-char-did-i-feel-about-char/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“I do want to believe that there's some place in the world that's more mature than high school," Vicky said. 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It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/i-glared-at-him-you-came-all-the-way-to-essex-just-to-spy-on-us-yeah/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“ United we stand, divided we fall Just watch us as we beat ya’ll. You say ‘brother against brother’? Well, my brother screwed your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/united-we-stand-divided-we-fall-just-watch-us-as-we-beat-ya-ll-you/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“I was smiling like a crazy person because I has just made a hundred people dance, I had just made a hundred people scream,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/i-was-smiling-like-a-crazy-person-because-i-has-just-made-a-hundred/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Throughout it all, you are still, always, you: beautiful and bruised, known and unknowable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/throughout-it-all-you-are-still-always-you-beautiful-and-bruised/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“If you can swing it, getting arrested is the high point of the Fourth of July. Also, the reading of the Declaration of Independence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/if-you-can-swing-it-getting-arrested-is-the-high-point-of-the-fourth/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Fiona says that I have trouble moving on. That I cling to the past...I knew that I would miss it. I'd miss the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/fiona-says-that-i-have-trouble-moving-on-that-i-cling-to-the-past-i/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) [Explore all 88 Leila Sales quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) ## More Describe yourself quotes > [Start by writing down ten positive words to describe yourself. Write them on a card - the size of a business card will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-edmonds/start-by-writing-down-ten-positive-words-to-describe-yourself-write/) [Noel Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-edmonds/) > [If someone was like, 'Describe yourself in one word,' I would never say, 'Handsome.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-harding/if-someone-was-like-describe-yourself-in-one-word-i-would-never-say/) [Ian Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-harding/) > [“If you describe yourself as "Atheist," some people will say, "Don't you mean 'Agnostic'?" I have to reply that I really do mean Atheist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/if-you-describe-yourself-as-atheist-some-people-will-say-don-t-you/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“The first step in overcoming your problem is to acknowledge that what you call shyness is anxiety, a very specific kind of anxiety. 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It believes exactly what you tell it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/if-you-celebrate-your-differentness-the-world-will-too-it-believes-2/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [“If you could pick only one word to describe yourself, what would it be?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-could-pick-only-one-word-to-describe-yourself-what-would-it-be/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“in the dark you have to describe yourself. In the daylight other people describe you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fynn/in-the-dark-you-have-to-describe-yourself-in-the-daylight-other/) [Fynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fynn/) > [“Frozen, I stood staring at him like he was a vision or something. His hair was still damp, and a few droplets glistened on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/frozen-i-stood-staring-at-him-like-he-was-a-vision-or-something-his/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > [I just go for what makes me feel good. Especially in 2011, it's so easy to sound like a dickhead when describing yourself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tucker/i-just-go-for-what-makes-me-feel-good-especially-in-2011-it-s-so-easy/) [Mike Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tucker/) > [Relentless is not the sexiest word to describe yourself. But I will say I am resilient. I don't wound easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/relentless-is-not-the-sexiest-word-to-describe-yourself-but-i-will/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [I've always described my taste in fashion and music as being very eclectic and uniquely based off my feelings that day. That's the wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayden-panettiere/i-ve-always-described-my-taste-in-fashion-and-music-as-being-very/) [Hayden Panettiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayden-panettiere/) > [“George grinned. 'A pity you're perfectly dreadful at shooting.' Aubrey shrugged. 'I've had all the lessons. I'm adequate.' 'Adequate? I suppose it depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pryor/george-grinned-a-pity-you-re-perfectly-dreadful-at-shooting-aubrey/) [Michael Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pryor/) > [“Once people decide they want you to do something, they don’t really care what your qualifications are. However you describe yourself becomes proof that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/once-people-decide-they-want-you-to-do-something-they-don-t-really-2/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) [Browse all 35 Describe yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/describe-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I didn’t know. I feel sometimes like…there are all these rules. Just to be a person. You know? You’re supposed to carry a shoulder bag, not a backpack. You’re supposed to wear headbands, or you’re not supposed to wear headbands. It’s okay to describe yourself as likeable, but it’s not okay to describe yourself as eloquent. You can sit in the front of the school bus, but you can’t sit in the middle. You’re not supposed to be with a boy, even when he wants you to. I didn’t know that. 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