--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a survivor. But I'm also victim, too…" description: "\"I'm a survivor. But I'm also victim, too. Surviving has the connotation that you've been through it, you lived through it and that's wonderful - but a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/margaret-cho-1136_connotation_i-m-a-survivor-but-i-m-also-victim-too-s_3073820.jpg" --- # I'm a survivor. But I'm also victim, too. Surviving has… ![“I'm a survivor. But I'm also victim, too. Surviving has the connotation that you've been through it, you lived through it and that's wonderful - but a victim is what I was. "Survivor" is the more healing way to look at it.” quote by Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/margaret-cho-1136_connotation_i-m-a-survivor-but-i-m-also-victim-too-s_3073820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/margaret-cho-1136_connotation_i-m-a-survivor-but-i-m-also-victim-too-s_3073820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/margaret-cho-1136_connotation_i-m-a-survivor-but-i-m-also-victim-too-s_3073820.jpg) > “I'm a survivor. But I'm also victim, too. Surviving has the connotation that you've been through it, you lived through it and that's wonderful - but a victim is what I was. "Survivor" is the more healing way to look at it.” [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reframes her identity from victim to survivor, viewing survivorship as a healing perspective on past hardships. **In simple terms:** Survivor is a healthier label than victim. Key Takeaway Adopt a healing self‑view. Themes identity healing resilience Mood introspective empowering Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Therapy sessions - support groups - public speaking - writing memoirs Key Concepts self‑perception mental health personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What does “survivor” mean to you personally? - How can language shape healing? A Different Perspective Self‑labeling can oversimplify complex experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connotation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connotation/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Surviving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surviving/) [Surviving Connotation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surviving-connotation-5213148/) [Survivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivor/) [Survivor Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivor-healing-5213149/) [Survivor Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivor-victim-559143/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Victim Survivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim-survivor-823112/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm not a victim. I'm not a survivor. I'm a fighter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-mathewson/i-m-not-a-victim-i-m-not-a-survivor-i-m-a-fighter/) [J.E. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-mathewson/) > [ \[The kidnapping\] happened 14 years ago, and I didn't talk about it for ten years because I was too embarrassed. I was too scared.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-farrell/the-kidnapping-happened-14-years-ago-and-i-didn-t-talk-about-it-for/) [Frida Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-farrell/) > [“Sometimes we wore such hurtful, limiting labels in this life, whether they'd been assigned by others or by ourselves. I'd felt damaged and ruined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/sometimes-we-wore-such-hurtful-limiting-labels-in-this-life-whether/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [The difference between being a victim and a survivor is often a low level of situational awareness. You can't be a super-spy, watchful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-difference-between-being-a-victim-and-a-survivor-is-often-a-low/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [I'm not a victim - I'm a survivor of hunger, of hate, of different injustices that humans are facing today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/i-m-not-a-victim-i-m-a-survivor-of-hunger-of-hate-of-different/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [The last thing I want to be known as is 'The Girl Who Got Raped'. The big turn around you make in your head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/the-last-thing-i-want-to-be-known-as-is-the-girl-who-got-raped-the/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [“It took me a long time, but I prefer “victim” to “survivor” now. I don’t want to diminish the gravity of what happened. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/it-took-me-a-long-time-but-i-prefer-victim-to-survivor-now-i-don-t/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [“We wrap our arms around each other and we cry. We cry mother to daughter. We cry aunt to niece. We cry victim to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-wrap-our-arms-around-each-other-and-we-cry-we-cry-mother-to/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Ava Elizabeth Baker you make yourself a survivor, not a victim. Become an exception and not a rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gulla/ava-elizabeth-baker-you-make-yourself-a-survivor-not-a-victim-become/) [Nicole Gulla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gulla/) > [“So when life breaks you pick up the pieces and keep moving. Otherwise, you stay broken. And instead of being a survivor, you’re always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hunter/so-when-life-breaks-you-pick-up-the-pieces-and-keep-moving-otherwise/) [Elizabeth Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hunter/) > [“Coming to terms with incest is not easy. Learning to be a survivor, not a victim, gives new meaning to life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynette-gould/coming-to-terms-with-incest-is-not-easy-learning-to-be-a-survivor-not/) [Lynette Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynette-gould/) > [“I use the term survivor to describe what some might call a victim. I hope you can embrace the word survivor because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/i-use-the-term-survivor-to-describe-what-some-might-call-a-victim-i/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [Despite all the things I have been through in my life, I will continue to hold my head up high and move on. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/despite-all-the-things-i-have-been-through-in-my-life-i-will-continue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Someone once asked me how I hold my head up so high after all I have been through. I said it's because no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-buckley/someone-once-asked-me-how-i-hold-my-head-up-so-high-after-all-i-have/) [Patricia Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-buckley/) > [I am a survivor and not a victim. Life isn't perfect. When you get a knock, you have to get up, dust yourself down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-kensit/i-am-a-survivor-and-not-a-victim-life-isn-t-perfect-when-you-get-a/) [Patsy Kensit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-kensit/) ## More by Margaret Cho > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I'm super-obsessed with 'Intervention.' I wrote a song about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-m-super-obsessed-with-intervention-i-wrote-a-song-about-it/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I have 3 dogs myself - I actually have a kennel license in order to do so. I love them so much I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-have-3-dogs-myself-i-actually-have-a-kennel-license-in-order-to-do/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I think self-deprecation is such a disease, and I want to cure everybody of it and so that's my contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-self-deprecation-is-such-a-disease-and-i-want-to-cure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I don't like pot anymore -- I forget why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-don-t-like-pot-anymore-i-forget-why/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I'm not a mom, but I think the word 'mother' is about wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-m-not-a-mom-but-i-think-the-word-mother-is-about-wisdom/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [That we are selfish gives us the opportunity to gain the power so that, in time, we might be selfless. To give back what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/that-we-are-selfish-gives-us-the-opportunity-to-gain-the-power-so/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Why can't all different types of women be considered beautiful? Why can't we can't we all be considered possible love interests?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/why-can-t-all-different-types-of-women-be-considered-beautiful-why/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I think that failure is just as important as success. In a way, failure is a kind of success if you can look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-that-failure-is-just-as-important-as-success-in-a-way-failure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I could never make a joke about somebody unless I could say it to their face and they'd laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-could-never-make-a-joke-about-somebody-unless-i-could-say-it-to/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/sometimes-when-we-are-generous-in-small-barely-detectable-ways-it-can/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [ Something as important as marriage equality, which is now a constitutional right \[in the USA\], is something that cannot be denied. It's also very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/something-as-important-as-marriage-equality-which-is-now-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [It's not the best between my family and me. There are so many crimes left unpunished, debts unpaid, white elephants in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/it-s-not-the-best-between-my-family-and-me-there-are-so-many-crimes/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [It's okay for you to have relationships, but it's not okay to talk about them. It's not okay to be out or to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/it-s-okay-for-you-to-have-relationships-but-it-s-not-okay-to-talk/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [My attitude toward peace does not depend on which war we are discussing. I think that words should do the work of bombs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/my-attitude-toward-peace-does-not-depend-on-which-war-we-are/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) [Explore all 285 Margaret Cho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) ## More Connotation quotes > [It's a pity that there's such a negative connotation about paying for sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-sprinkle/it-s-a-pity-that-there-s-such-a-negative-connotation-about-paying-for/) [Annie Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-sprinkle/) > [Each one of us has a 'wanna-be' in us. 'Wanna-be' is a sweet term used with a negative connotation. I also love being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/each-one-of-us-has-a-wanna-be-in-us-wanna-be-is-a-sweet-term-used/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Altermodern is an in-progress redefinition of modernity in the era of globalisation, stressing the experience of wandering in time, space and mediums. The term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-bourriaud/altermodern-is-an-in-progress-redefinition-of-modernity-in-the-era-of/) [Nicolas Bourriaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-bourriaud/) > [Being blond is definitely a different state of mind. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-orton/i-get-told-i-m-a-confessional-songwriter-which-gets-on-my-tits/) [Beth Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-orton/) > [In most circles, the idea of economic planning has been in disrepute most of the time and, particularly in America, has almost carried connotations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-myrdal/in-most-circles-the-idea-of-economic-planning-has-been-in-disrepute/) [Gunnar Myrdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-myrdal/) > [Women need to take charge of their lives and be as dynamic and active as they can be. I know that some people feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/women-need-to-take-charge-of-their-lives-and-be-as-dynamic-and-active/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I am a Libertarian. 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