--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bite of existence did not cut into…" description: "\"The bite of existence did not cut into one in Hollywood ... Life elsewhere was real and slippery and struggled in the arms like a big fish dying in air..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/mae-west-1200_air_the-bite-of-existence-did-not-cut-into-o_1778937.jpg" --- # The bite of existence did not cut into one in Hollywood… ![“The bite of existence did not cut into one in Hollywood ... Life elsewhere was real and slippery and struggled in the arms like a big fish dying in air.” quote by Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/mae-west-1200_air_the-bite-of-existence-did-not-cut-into-o_1778937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/mae-west-1200_air_the-bite-of-existence-did-not-cut-into-o_1778937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/mae-west-1200_air_the-bite-of-existence-did-not-cut-into-o_1778937.jpg) > “The bite of existence did not cut into one in Hollywood ... Life elsewhere was real and slippery and struggled in the arms like a big fish dying in air.” [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes Hollywood life as harsh and unreal, contrasting it with the raw, struggling reality elsewhere. **In simple terms:** Hollywood feels fake; real life is tough and slippery. Key Takeaway Recognize the difference between illusion and reality. Themes illusion reality struggle Mood cynical reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - artistic pursuits - personal growth Key Concepts media criticism existentialism survival Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay authentic amid superficial environments? - What does “real” life mean to you? A Different Perspective Romanticizing hardship can ignore genuine pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Big fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-fish/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Bites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bites/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Elsewhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elsewhere/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Hollywood life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-real/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Slippery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slippery/) [Slippery Struggled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slippery-struggled-1845038/) [Struggled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggled/) ## Related quotes > [Wasn't your life the real deal too? You we're the one who worked hard! You we'r the one who struggled desperately, weren't you?! What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-barroa/wasn-t-your-life-the-real-deal-too-you-we-re-the-one-who-worked-hard/) [Faith Barroa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-barroa/) > [My life in Montana is so diverse from my Hollywood life that it even feels odd for me to go from one life to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/my-life-in-montana-is-so-diverse-from-my-hollywood-life-that-it-even/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [What I've learned, more than anything, as a young actor who has been in the business for 10 years, is just to be around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/what-i-ve-learned-more-than-anything-as-a-young-actor-who-has-been-in/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [I had a pretty normal, non-Hollywood life for most of my 20s in San Francisco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-had-a-pretty-normal-non-hollywood-life-for-most-of-my-20s-in-san/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Meeting Jerry Mathers I remember thinking, "This is it, man. This is the Hollywood life! I'm an actor and I'm going to Jerry's party.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/meeting-jerry-mathers-i-remember-thinking-this-is-it-man-this-is-the/) [Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/) > [I feel like I've been very smart in the way that I carry myself and treat myself. I feel like my mom was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-ross/i-feel-like-i-ve-been-very-smart-in-the-way-that-i-carry-myself-and/) [Evan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-ross/) > [Hollywood life is never true. Ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/hollywood-life-is-never-true-ever/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [I wanted people to see that I really am a real person. I'm not just some guy who was on a TV show, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-mccreery/i-wanted-people-to-see-that-i-really-am-a-real-person-i-m-not-just/) [Scotty McCreery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-mccreery/) > [Just because I live in L.A .and I live in Hollywood doesn't mean I have to have a Hollywood life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/just-because-i-live-in-l-a-and-i-live-in-hollywood-doesn-t-mean-i/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [I don't think people are interested in my personal life. I've never had a Hollywood life. I've always been a worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-don-t-think-people-are-interested-in-my-personal-life-i-ve-never/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I'm more interested in talking about what I do. And I don't think people are interested in my personal life. I've never had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-m-more-interested-in-talking-about-what-i-do-and-i-don-t-think/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I never thought Hollywood is the life I want to do. I thought acting is the life I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-never-thought-hollywood-is-the-life-i-want-to-do-i-thought-acting/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [“Remember how we forgot? Once upon a time, we were young Our dreams hung like apples Waiting to be picked and peeled And hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-l-koyczan/remember-how-we-forgot-once-upon-a-time-we-were-young-our-dreams-hung/) [Shane L. Koyczan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-l-koyczan/) > [They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops, and that's true. What they don't tell you is that when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-wallace/they-say-when-you-meet-the-love-of-your-life-time-stops-and-that-s/) [Daniel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-wallace/) > [I am a storyteller, and I grew up with a father who told big-fish stories, so storytelling is very much a part of me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stroman/i-am-a-storyteller-and-i-grew-up-with-a-father-who-told-big-fish/) [Susan Stroman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stroman/) ## More by Mae West > [Reason was nowhere, time was an immovable object nailed high on the wall, except where the world kept shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/reason-was-nowhere-time-was-an-immovable-object-nailed-high-on-the/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I've been in 'Who's Who' and I know what's what, but it'll be the first time I ever made the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-in-who-s-who-and-i-know-what-s-what-but-it-ll-be-the-first/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Look your best - who said love is blind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/look-your-best-who-said-love-is-blind/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Don't let a man put anything over on you except an umbrella.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/don-t-let-a-man-put-anything-over-on-you-except-an-umbrella/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [In my long and colorful career, one thing stands out: I have been misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/in-my-long-and-colorful-career-one-thing-stands-out-i-have-been/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The finest woman that ever walked the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-finest-woman-that-ever-walked-the-streets/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The best way to hold a man is in your arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-best-way-to-hold-a-man-is-in-your-arms/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Live close, visit often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/live-close-visit-often/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [A real farmer. He spent his childhood in the wheat, and his marriage in the hay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/a-real-farmer-he-spent-his-childhood-in-the-wheat-and-his-marriage-in/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Marriage? I ain't got time for a husband or child. All my life I've looked after myself as if I was my own child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/marriage-i-ain-t-got-time-for-a-husband-or-child-all-my-life-i-ve/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“If I can't a man with a million dollars, I'll a million men with one dollar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-i-can-t-a-man-with-a-million-dollars-i-ll-a-million-men-with-one/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Sometimes I don't drink so the next day I can remember having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/sometimes-i-don-t-drink-so-the-next-day-i-can-remember-having-fun/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Positive thoughts generate positive feelings and attract positive life experiences. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/positive-thoughts-generate-positive-feelings-and-attract-positive/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I believe in the single standard -- for men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-believe-in-the-single-standard-for-men-and-women/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“Goodness had nothing to do with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/goodness-had-nothing-to-do-with-it/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) [Explore all 271 Mae West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. 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