--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate…" description: "\"A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing.\" — Marilyn Monroe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/marilyn-monroe-416_hate_a-sex-symbol-becomes-a-thing-i-just-hate_1367285.jpg" --- # A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing. ![“A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing.” quote by Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/marilyn-monroe-416_hate_a-sex-symbol-becomes-a-thing-i-just-hate_1367285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/marilyn-monroe-416_hate_a-sex-symbol-becomes-a-thing-i-just-hate_1367285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/marilyn-monroe-416_hate_a-sex-symbol-becomes-a-thing-i-just-hate_1367285.jpg) > “A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing.” [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She resents being reduced to an object rather than a person with agency. **In simple terms:** She hates being seen as a thing. Key Takeaway Reject objectification. Themes identity objectification celebrity self-worth Mood defiant reflective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - career decisions - public image - self-acceptance Key Concepts gender roles media representation Questions to Reflect On - How do you assert your humanity in a commodified world? - What boundaries protect your identity? A Different Perspective Society often still defines people by superficial traits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sex symbol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-symbol/) ## Related quotes > [“A sex symbol becomes a thing. I hate being a thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-sex-symbol-becomes-a-thing-i-hate-being-a-thing/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [A sex-symbol becomes a thing, I just hate being a thing. But if I'm going to be a symbol of something I'd rather have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-sex-symbol-becomes-a-thing-i-just-hate-being-a-thing-but-if-i-m/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [That's the trouble, a sex symbol becomes a thing. But if I'm going to be a symbol of something, I'd rather have it sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/that-s-the-trouble-a-sex-symbol-becomes-a-thing-but-if-i-m-going-to/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I hate the whole reluctant sex-symbol thing. It's such bull. You see these dudes greased up, in their underwear, talking about how they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-hate-the-whole-reluctant-sex-symbol-thing-it-s-such-bull-you-see/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [The sex symbol thing's a little bit different for me. Usually, like whenever there's a picture of me, there's always this set of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-baker/the-sex-symbol-thing-s-a-little-bit-different-for-me-usually-like/) [Mitchell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-baker/) > [That whole sex symbol thing I never took seriously to begin with. Thank goodness, or I'd be suffering right now because it's out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-derek/that-whole-sex-symbol-thing-i-never-took-seriously-to-begin-with/) [Bo Derek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-derek/) > [The whole sex-symbol thing is part of what I do as an actress. It's a kind of character I play. It's part of me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-welch/the-whole-sex-symbol-thing-is-part-of-what-i-do-as-an-actress-it-s-a/) [Raquel Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-welch/) > [“In this sorry world, the symbol is the thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/in-this-sorry-world-the-symbol-is-the-thing/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Sometimes a symbol holds more power than the thing it represents. Like the symbol for Thing, the one I created that is confusing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/sometimes-a-symbol-holds-more-power-than-the-thing-it-represents-like/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [In my opinion, the greatest single failure of American education is that students come away unable to distinguish between a symbol and the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lutus/in-my-opinion-the-greatest-single-failure-of-american-education-is/) [Paul Lutus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lutus/) > [People used to come knocking on my door saying, 'Your trouble is that you're a sex symbol who doesn't do enough sexy things.' I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-welch/people-used-to-come-knocking-on-my-door-saying-your-trouble-is-that/) [Raquel Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-welch/) > [I wasn't a sex symbol, I was a sex zombie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-lake/i-wasn-t-a-sex-symbol-i-was-a-sex-zombie/) [Veronica Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-lake/) > [As far as I'm concerned, the sexiness, the sex symbol, it's not a consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-the-sexiness-the-sex-symbol-it-s-not-a/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) > [I know I have sex appeal, but I've never felt like an actual sex symbol. Fans sometimes think I am. The majority of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teena-marie/i-know-i-have-sex-appeal-but-i-ve-never-felt-like-an-actual-sex/) [Teena Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teena-marie/) > [“If you're not a sex symbol, you're in trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gurley-brown/if-you-re-not-a-sex-symbol-you-re-in-trouble/) [Helen Gurley Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gurley-brown/) ## More by Marilyn Monroe > [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Nothing happens without a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/nothing-happens-without-a-reason/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Sometimes I've been to a party where no one spoke to me for a whole evening. The men, frightened by their wives or sweeites...the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/sometimes-i-ve-been-to-a-party-where-no-one-spoke-to-me-for-a-whole/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/you-believe-lies-so-you-eventually-learn-to-trust-no-one-but-yourself/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [The worst thing that happens to people when they dress up and go to a party is that they leave their real selves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/the-worst-thing-that-happens-to-people-when-they-dress-up-and-go-to-a/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Confidentially, the type of male I find most enjoyable for a friend is one who has enough fire and assurance to speak up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/confidentially-the-type-of-male-i-find-most-enjoyable-for-a-friend-is/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I usually eat four or five raw carrots with my meat, and that is all. I must be part rabbit; I never get bored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-usually-eat-four-or-five-raw-carrots-with-my-meat-and-that-is-all-i/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupied so are regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/we-should-all-start-to-live-before-we-get-too-old-fear-is-stupied-so/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [You're the beautiful one. It's society that's ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/you-re-the-beautiful-one-it-s-society-that-s-ugly/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-ve-never-fooled-anyone-i-ve-let-people-fool-themselves-they-didn-t/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/if-i-d-observed-all-the-rules-i-d-never-have-got-anywhere/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [A woman can't be alone. She needs a man. A man and a woman support and strengthen each other. She just can't do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-woman-can-t-be-alone-she-needs-a-man-a-man-and-a-woman-support-and/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [It's better being completely ridiculous than unbelievably boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/it-s-better-being-completely-ridiculous-than-unbelievably-boring/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [A career is wonderful thing, but you can't snuggle up to it on a cold night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-career-is-wonderful-thing-but-you-can-t-snuggle-up-to-it-on-a-cold/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Suicide, is a persons privilege. I don't believe it's a sin or a crime it's your right if you do. Though it doesn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/suicide-is-a-persons-privilege-i-don-t-believe-it-s-a-sin-or-a-crime/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) [Explore all 572 Marilyn Monroe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) ## More Hate quotes > [If you hate yourself... The world will hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/if-you-hate-yourself-the-world-will-hate-you/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [Hate nothing in another human being because your eyes is made looking at others but never at your own self except in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/hate-nothing-in-another-human-being-because-your-eyes-is-made-looking/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) Rena Kornreich Gelissen > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [I do so hate to be forced to be anything than other than what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/i-do-so-hate-to-be-forced-to-be-anything-than-other-than-what-i-am/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [I hate watching myself speak German, it's painful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/i-hate-watching-myself-speak-german-it-s-painful/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Britain has united to send a strong message to anyone who seeks to peddle hate. Together we are stronger. Together we can beat hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rudd/britain-has-united-to-send-a-strong-message-to-anyone-who-seeks-to/) [Amber Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rudd/) > [I've got the long hair and kind of androgynous look. 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