---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never pigeonhole myself into any…"
description: "\"I never pigeonhole myself into any religion, but I feel it has found me. I am trying to make sense of it... the essence of the Mathangi concept.\" — M.I.A"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/m-i-a-3418_am_i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-relig_828482.jpg"
---

#  I never pigeonhole myself into any religion, but I feel it…

![“I never pigeonhole myself into any religion, but I feel it has found me. I am trying to make sense of it... the essence of the Mathangi concept.” quote by M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/m-i-a-3418_am_i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-relig_828482.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/m-i-a-3418_am_i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-relig_828482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/m-i-a-3418_am_i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-relig_828482.jpg)

> “I never pigeonhole myself into any religion, but I feel it has found me. I am trying to make sense of it... the essence of the Mathangi concept.”

M.I.A

## 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 resists labeling themselves religiously yet acknowledges a spiritual force influencing them, seeking understanding of a concept called Mathangi

**In simple terms:** I feel a spiritual force without a religion, trying to understand it

Key Takeaway

Explore personal spirituality without strict labels

Themes

spirituality identity self‑discovery

Mood

contemplative curious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- creative work
- public speaking

Key Concepts

existential inquiry personal mythos

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you define the Mathangi concept?
- What does “found me” imply about agency?

A Different Perspective

Spiritual experiences can be vague and hard to articulate

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Pigeonhole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigeonhole/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/)

## Related quotes

> [“that the stories we tell about things, and thus the beliefs we have about their history and their nature, shape our experience of them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wright/that-the-stories-we-tell-about-things-and-thus-the-beliefs-we-have/)

[Robert Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wright/)

> [“Can you hover over your body for a while and peer beyond the fog that imbues the mind and sense the essence of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-gordon/can-you-hover-over-your-body-for-a-while-and-peer-beyond-the-fog-that/)

[Gary Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-gordon/)

> [In fact, a sense of essence is, in essence, the essence of sense, in effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-hofstadter/in-fact-a-sense-of-essence-is-in-essence-the-essence-of-sense-in/)

[Douglas Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-hofstadter/)

> [I never pigeonholed myself - the only reason you'd want to pigeonhole is to monetize your business and, as a person, I don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonholed-myself-the-only-reason-you-d-want-to-pigeonhole/)

M.I.A

> [“I hate when art becomes a religion. I feel the opposite. When you start putting a higher value on works of art than people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-hate-when-art-becomes-a-religion-i-feel-the-opposite-when-you-start/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [For a long time religion made me feel guilty for being involved in music. Growing up, the religion I grew up in, the Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-panter/for-a-long-time-religion-made-me-feel-guilty-for-being-involved-in/)

[Gary Panter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-panter/)

> [Religion is doing; a man does not merely think his religion or feel it, he 'lives' his religion as much as he is able,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/religion-is-doing-a-man-does-not-merely-think-his-religion-or-feel-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Church is missing transcendence. My generation was raised on a religion of moral control. Do this. Don't do that. And a lot of self-help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/church-is-missing-transcendence-my-generation-was-raised-on-a/)

[Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/)

> [People gravitate to religion to feel a connection to the underlying meaning of everything. Well, as a scientist, you're always looking for the underlying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-porco/people-gravitate-to-religion-to-feel-a-connection-to-the-underlying/)

[Carolyn Porco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-porco/)

> [I personally believe that our planet would be absolutely fine without religion, and I also feel we are evolving in that direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-personally-believe-that-our-planet-would-be-absolutely-fine-without/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [You don't want to pigeonhole yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/you-don-t-want-to-pigeonhole-yourself/)

[Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/)

> [People like to pigeonhole you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-statham/people-like-to-pigeonhole-you/)

[Jason Statham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-statham/)

> [I never tried to pigeonhole myself. I've been willing to take risks and try doing things like reality TV with 'The Bachelor' or Food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-palmer/i-never-tried-to-pigeonhole-myself-i-ve-been-willing-to-take-risks/)

[Jesse Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-palmer/)

> [When I was younger, my father told me not to pigeonhole the way that I perceive myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/when-i-was-younger-my-father-told-me-not-to-pigeonhole-the-way-that-i/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

## More by M.I.A

> [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/)

M.I.A

> [You have to constantly redefine who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/you-have-to-constantly-redefine-who-you-are/)

M.I.A

> [That's what I miss, being a real human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-i-miss-being-a-real-human/)

M.I.A

> [Retirement: a brand new beginning! How wonderful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/retirement-a-brand-new-beginning-how-wonderful/)

M.I.A

> [I don't like the idea of spirituality done the way it's done. The only way I could understand it was through creativity, not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-spirituality-done-the-way-it-s-done-the-only/)

M.I.A

> [I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-that-you-have-to-teach-people-in/)

M.I.A

> [The first 10 years of my life, I lived as 'Matangi.' When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/the-first-10-years-of-my-life-i-lived-as-matangi-when-i-came-to/)

M.I.A

> [My uncle was the first brown person to have a market stall on Petticoat Lane in the 1960s. He worked his way up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-uncle-was-the-first-brown-person-to-have-a-market-stall-on/)

M.I.A

> [That divide between the rich and poor is so crazy, because even white kids are suffering now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-divide-between-the-rich-and-poor-is-so-crazy-because-even-white/)

M.I.A

> [Businessmen in society are not going to be the ones that promote anything outside of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/businessmen-in-society-are-not-going-to-be-the-ones-that-promote/)

M.I.A

> [That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make the world stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-have-real-art-happen-in-an/)

M.I.A

> [I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyones perception of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-like-a-mirror-reflecting-back-everyones-perception-of-me/)

M.I.A

> [In England right now you're not good enough until you get validated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-england-right-now-you-re-not-good-enough-until-you-get-validated/)

M.I.A

> [I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people don't like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-always-a-question-mark-i-leave/)

M.I.A

> [Basically, when I went to school in Sri Lanka from age five onward, the classes there were sometimes sorted into a hierarchy of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/basically-when-i-went-to-school-in-sri-lanka-from-age-five-onward-the/)

M.I.A

Explore all 131 M.I.A quotes

## More Am quotes

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/)

[Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/)

[Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/)

> [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/)

[Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/)

> [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/)

Darlene Senger

> [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/)

[Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/)

> [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/)

[Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/)

Browse all 9,589 Am quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I never pigeonhole myself into any religion, but I feel it has found me. I am trying to make sense of it... the essence of the Mathangi concept.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "M.I.A"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-religion-but-i-feel-it-has-found/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Am"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-religion-but-i-feel-it-has-found/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/m-i-a-3418_am_i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-relig_828482.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/m-i-a-3418_am_i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-relig_828482.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/m-i-a-3418_am_i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-relig_828482.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never pigeonhole myself into any religion, but I feel it has found me. I am trying to make sense of it…” — M.I.A",
                "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": "M.I.A",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I never pigeonhole myself into any...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-religion-but-i-feel-it-has-found/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-never-pigeonhole-myself-into-any-religion-but-i-feel-it-has-found/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
