--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a mass of contradictions." description: "\"I am a mass of contradictions.\" — Maureen Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/maureen-johnson-1282_contradiction_i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions-2961359_2961359.png" --- # I am a mass of contradictions. ![“I am a mass of contradictions.” quote by Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/maureen-johnson-1282_contradiction_i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions-2961359_2961359.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/maureen-johnson-1282_contradiction_i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions-2961359_2961359.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/maureen-johnson-1282_contradiction_i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions-2961359_2961359.png) > “I am a mass of contradictions.” [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) ## 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 acknowledges personal complexity, embracing contradictory traits as part of identity. **In simple terms:** I have many opposing sides. Key Takeaway Accept contradictions as part of self. Themes identity self‑acceptance complexity Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - self‑reflection - creative work - relationship dynamics Key Concepts psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile opposing aspects of yourself? - What benefits arise from embracing complexity? A Different Perspective Contradictions can cause internal conflict if not integrated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Contradictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictions/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) ## Related quotes > [Of course, we're all a mass of contradictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/of-course-we-re-all-a-mass-of-contradictions/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Isn’t everyone’s life a mass of contradictions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/isn-t-everyone-s-life-a-mass-of-contradictions/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [I do believe as human beings we are a great mass of contradictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/i-do-believe-as-human-beings-we-are-a-great-mass-of-contradictions/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [“War is a mass of contradictions and carefully acknowledged truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sagara-west/war-is-a-mass-of-contradictions-and-carefully-acknowledged-truths/) [Michelle Sagara West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sagara-west/) > [“It was all very well to aim at the intention of the soul: who could tell what that was when people seemed a mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/it-was-all-very-well-to-aim-at-the-intention-of-the-soul-who-could/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The energy that New York exudes is as much the light of extinguished souls as it is the spark of individual enterprise. And while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-foreman/the-energy-that-new-york-exudes-is-as-much-the-light-of-extinguished/) [Amanda Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-foreman/) > [“Hugo could cheerfully have died of mortification - if such a mass of contradictions had been possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/hugo-could-cheerfully-have-died-of-mortification-if-such-a-mass-of/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“Lucien Knight was a walking, talking hang up, a beautiful mass of contradictions. He'd been single-minded in his mission to free her from her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-french/lucien-knight-was-a-walking-talking-hang-up-a-beautiful-mass-of/) [Kitty French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-french/) > [There is, in short, no 'spatial fix' that can contain the contradictions of capitalism in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/there-is-in-short-no-spatial-fix-that-can-contain-the-contradictions/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [We crave support in vanity, as we do in religion, and never forgive contradictions in that sphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/we-crave-support-in-vanity-as-we-do-in-religion-and-never-forgive/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [We both wondered whether these contradictions that one can't avoid if one begins to think of time and space may not really be proofs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/we-both-wondered-whether-these-contradictions-that-one-can-t-avoid-if/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [“Seemed she should learn to smile when she was unhappy, to stop laughing, to speak up, to never speak to strangers, to share guilt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aylett/seemed-she-should-learn-to-smile-when-she-was-unhappy-to-stop/) [Steve Aylett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-aylett/) > [The reflection of nature in man's thought must be understood not lifelessly but in the eternal process of movement, the arising of contradictions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/the-reflection-of-nature-in-man-s-thought-must-be-understood-not/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [There are evidently limits to the achievements of science; and there are irresolvable contradictions both between prosperity and virtue, and between happiness and ''the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/there-are-evidently-limits-to-the-achievements-of-science-and-there/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [Contradictions in human character are one of its most consistent notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/contradictions-in-human-character-are-one-of-its-most-consistent-notes/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) ## More by Maureen Johnson > [“Knowledge is the heaviest weight of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/knowledge-is-the-heaviest-weight-of-all/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [There is no normal. I've never met a normal person. The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I may have been a complete lunatic, but I was a complete lunatic with manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-may-have-been-a-complete-lunatic-but-i-was-a-complete-lunatic-with/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Did you hear?" he asked. "They found another body around nine this morning. It's the Ripper, definitely." "Good morning," I replied. "Morning. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/did-you-hear-he-asked-they-found-another-body-around-nine-this/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [She was standing in the airport of Copenhagen, staring at a doorway, trying to figure out if it was (a) a bathroom and (b)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-was-standing-in-the-airport-of-copenhagen-staring-at-a-doorway/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [When I worked in theater, I was always writing things on Post-it Notes and sticking them on screens or desks. Twitter has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-i-worked-in-theater-i-was-always-writing-things-on-post-it-notes/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [She had always thought applying to college would be exciting. Living away from home, meeting so many new people, Learning new things, making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-had-always-thought-applying-to-college-would-be-exciting-living/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“Vitamin D,” Stevie said. “You need it.” “You don’t know that,” he said. “I want to eat my meat in my room with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/vitamin-d-stevie-said-you-need-it-you-don-t-know-that-he-said-i-want/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [No one hid their interest when I walked into the room. I'm not sure if it was the news about Boo or my general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/no-one-hid-their-interest-when-i-walked-into-the-room-i-m-not-sure-if/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [You'd been petting a stuffed dog?' she said 'A dead one?' 'It was a really well stuffed dog' I clarified. 'I have seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-d-been-petting-a-stuffed-dog-she-said-a-dead-one-it-was-a-really/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“When she emerged, Keith was watching the tiny round window of the under-the-counter washing machine. "Put your clothes in for a wash," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-she-emerged-keith-was-watching-the-tiny-round-window-of-the/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“For you, there is underage, and then, there is underage. I believe a taste of wine is perfectly acceptable, but please stick to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/for-you-there-is-underage-and-then-there-is-underage-i-believe-a/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Rory: "People are being serious." Jazza: "There's a serial killer out there. Of course people are being serious." Rory: "Yeah, but what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/rory-people-are-being-serious-jazza-there-s-a-serial-killer-out-there/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Boo: "Go talk to her." Callum: "About what?" Boo: "Anything." Callum: "You want me to walk up to her and say, 'Are you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/boo-go-talk-to-her-callum-about-what-boo-anything-callum-you-want-me/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) [Explore all 262 Maureen Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) ## More Contradiction quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-almost-a-contradiction-in-terms-it-means-a-strong-desire/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Contradictions in human character are one of its most consistent notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/contradictions-in-human-character-are-one-of-its-most-consistent-notes/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [“The tiny features below, taken together with the gentle mass of Montblanc towering above them, the Vanoise glacier almost invisible in the shimmering distance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald-2/the-tiny-features-below-taken-together-with-the-gentle-mass-of/) [W.G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald-2/) > [I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/i-m-a-skeptic-not-because-i-do-not-want-to-believe-but-because-i-want/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [There are evidently limits to the achievements of science; and there are irresolvable contradictions both between prosperity and virtue, and between happiness and ''the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/there-are-evidently-limits-to-the-achievements-of-science-and-there/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [To exist (in mathematics), said Henri Poincaré, is to be free from contradiction. But mere existence does not guarantee survival. To survive in mathematics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kac/to-exist-in-mathematics-said-henri-poincar-is-to-be-free-from/) [Mark Kac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kac/) > [“In these creations, life and symbolic value are not in contradiction: they intensify each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/in-these-creations-life-and-symbolic-value-are-not-in-contradiction/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I have never agreed with my other self wholly. The truth of the matter seems to lie between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/i-have-never-agreed-with-my-other-self-wholly-the-truth-of-the-matter/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“A truth is not necessary, because we negatively are not able to conceive the actual existence of the opposite thereof;but a truth is necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-dabney/a-truth-is-not-necessary-because-we-negatively-are-not-able-to/) R.L. Dabney > [The pictures that were coming from Vietnam were showing us what was really happening on the ground level. It was in contradiction to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/the-pictures-that-were-coming-from-vietnam-were-showing-us-what-was/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [Here I encounter the most popular fallacy of our times. It is not considered sufficient that the law should guarantee to every citizen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/here-i-encounter-the-most-popular-fallacy-of-our-times-it-is-not/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/that-the-sun-will-not-rise-tomorrow-is-no-less-intelligible-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [The reflection of nature in man's thought must be understood not lifelessly but in the eternal process of movement, the arising of contradictions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/the-reflection-of-nature-in-man-s-thought-must-be-understood-not/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) [Browse all 1,263 Contradiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am a mass of contradictions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maureen Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contradiction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/maureen-johnson-1282_contradiction_i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions-2961359_2961359.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/maureen-johnson-1282_contradiction_i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions-2961359_2961359.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/maureen-johnson-1282_contradiction_i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions-2961359_2961359.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am a mass of contradictions.” — Maureen Johnson", "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": "Maureen Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am a mass of contradictions.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-am-a-mass-of-contradictions/#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 } } ] } ```