--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's why I survived because I still…" description: "\"That's why I survived because I still believe I've got something to say.\" — Lou Reed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/lou-reed-1654_believe_that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-be_1015360.png" --- # That's why I survived because I still believe I've got… ![“That's why I survived because I still believe I've got something to say.” quote by Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/lou-reed-1654_believe_that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-be_1015360.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/lou-reed-1654_believe_that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-be_1015360.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/lou-reed-1654_believe_that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-be_1015360.png) > “That's why I survived because I still believe I've got something to say.” [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Survival stems from confidence in one’s voice and purpose. **In simple terms:** Belief in having something to say keeps you alive. Key Takeaway Speak your truth to stay resilient. Themes creativity confidence survival expression identity Mood determined hopeful Type motivational artistic When to use this quote - songwriting - public speaking - personal journaling - advocacy Key Concepts Self‑actualization artistic purpose psychological resilience Questions to Reflect On - What message drives you forward? - How do you handle criticism of your voice? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind to feedback; not all voices are heard equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [I still believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-still-believe/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) ## Related quotes > [You can't ask me to explain the lyrics because I won't do it...I always believed that I have something important to say and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-can-t-ask-me-to-explain-the-lyrics-because-i-won-t-do-it-i-always/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [As a nation, I believe we've acquired faith in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/as-a-nation-i-believe-we-ve-acquired-faith-in-ourselves/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [There is a hell, believe me i've seen it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-hell-believe-me-i-ve-seen-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I do something I like to do it well and I believe I've got a lot to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/when-i-do-something-i-like-to-do-it-well-and-i-believe-i-ve-got-a-lot/) [Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/) > [I guess if you grow up with Christian parents, you get to a point where you ask: 'Okay, do I actually believe or am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griff/i-guess-if-you-grow-up-with-christian-parents-you-get-to-a-point/) [Griff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griff/) > [You've got a way with me. Somehow you got me to believe in everything that I could be. I've gotta say, you've really got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/you-ve-got-a-way-with-me-somehow-you-got-me-to-believe-in-everything/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [I can't believe I've even been to Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pontius/i-can-t-believe-i-ve-even-been-to-russia/) [Chris Pontius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pontius/) > [A friend is someone who believe in you even when you've ceased to believe in yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rymtz-ryme/a-friend-is-someone-who-believe-in-you-even-when-you-ve-ceased-to/) Rymtz Ryme > [I believe in myself, and I've always had people behind me who believed in me. With that, you can do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/i-believe-in-myself-and-i-ve-always-had-people-behind-me-who-believed/) [Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/) > [I don't believe I've ever cuddled my elses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/i-don-t-believe-i-ve-ever-cuddled-my-elses/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [Even if there isn't a God, I believe in the one we've created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gbenga-akinnagbe/even-if-there-isn-t-a-god-i-believe-in-the-one-we-ve-created/) [Gbenga Akinnagbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gbenga-akinnagbe/) > [“plate from him. “I do not believe you’ve never been sick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-holt/plate-from-him-i-do-not-believe-you-ve-never-been-sick/) Samantha Holt > [Believe it or not, I've never been on the subway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristaps-porzingis/believe-it-or-not-i-ve-never-been-on-the-subway/) [Kristaps Porzingis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristaps-porzingis/) > [I believe that everything you've said is not even wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-wilczek/i-believe-that-everything-you-ve-said-is-not-even-wrong/) [Frank Wilczek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-wilczek/) > [I do not believe they've run out of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/i-do-not-believe-they-ve-run-out-of-surprises/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## More by Lou Reed > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night is minimalistic and that's what makes it so forceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-is-minimalistic-and-that-s-what-makes-it-so-forceful/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. I rather look into the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concentrate-on-your-past-i-rather/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The only thing constantly changing is change, and change is always changing for the worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-only-thing-constantly-changing-is-change-and-change-is-always/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The first generation of CDs sounded terrible. Any chance to remaster would make the music sound better than what was already out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-first-generation-of-cds-sounded-terrible-any-chance-to-remaster/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night has that magic and it has the raw energy that grabs you by the throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-has-that-magic-and-it-has-the-raw-energy-that-grabs-you/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/eve-kissed-able-that-s-how-he-got-murdered-by-cain/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Music should come crashing out of your speakers and grab you, and the lyrics should challenge whatever preconceived notions that listener has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/music-should-come-crashing-out-of-your-speakers-and-grab-you-and-the/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Underachievers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose except your fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/underachievers-of-the-world-unite-you-have-nothing-to-lose-except/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“There's a bit of magic in everything And then some loss to even things out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/there-s-a-bit-of-magic-in-everything-and-then-some-loss-to-even/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [You've gotta blow the roof off of your heart and let the universe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-ve-gotta-blow-the-roof-off-of-your-heart-and-let-the-universe-in/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Sometimes, you've got to be in a place. You're just another guy. You can just blend in. I live out in the wilds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/sometimes-you-ve-got-to-be-in-a-place-you-re-just-another-guy-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [How could you even dream or think something of someone who is as uncommercial as I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/how-could-you-even-dream-or-think-something-of-someone-who-is-as/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [All the people have gone to war leaving no interrogator to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/all-the-people-have-gone-to-war-leaving-no-interrogator-to-mind/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I always thought martial arts was the most modern choreography we could have right now, and I always wanted to put it to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-always-thought-martial-arts-was-the-most-modern-choreography-we/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) [Explore all 219 Lou Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's why I survived because I still believe I've got something to say.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lou Reed" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-believe-i-ve-got-something-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-believe-i-ve-got-something-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/lou-reed-1654_believe_that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-be_1015360.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/lou-reed-1654_believe_that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-be_1015360.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/lou-reed-1654_believe_that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-be_1015360.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's why I survived because I still believe I've got something to say.” — Lou Reed", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lou Reed", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's why I survived because I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-believe-i-ve-got-something-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/that-s-why-i-survived-because-i-still-believe-i-ve-got-something-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```