--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm on stage, I'm not me playing me…" description: "\"When I'm on stage, I'm not me playing me. I'm somebody else doing me. I could never go on stage and be like, \"Hey, I'm Mike Tyson. My mother and father..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/mike-tyson-752_doing-me_when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-not-me-playing-me_168446.jpg" --- # When I'm on stage, I'm not me playing me. I'm somebody… ![“When I'm on stage, I'm not me playing me. I'm somebody else doing me. I could never go on stage and be like, "Hey, I'm Mike Tyson. My mother and father was in the sex industry." That's the politically correct way to say it, but I would really say, "My mother and father were pimps and whores. This…” quote by Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/mike-tyson-752_doing-me_when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-not-me-playing-me_168446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/mike-tyson-752_doing-me_when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-not-me-playing-me_168446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d54/mike-tyson-752_doing-me_when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-not-me-playing-me_168446.jpg) > “When I'm on stage, I'm not me playing me. I'm somebody else doing me. I could never go on stage and be like, "Hey, I'm Mike Tyson. My mother and father was in the sex industry." That's the politically correct way to say it, but I would really say, "My mother and father were pimps and whores. This is my life." I could never do that as Mike Tyson. Because I'd feel sorry for myself. But if I could be objective about it and be somebody else, portraying Mike Tyson, saying this story, then it's easy sailing.” [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) ## 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 describes using a performance persona to distance himself from personal hardships, making it easier to share painful truths. **In simple terms:** Adopting a character helps share painful from painful. Key Takeaway Use a role to discuss difficult topics. Themes identity performance vulnerability storytelling self‑distancing Mood reflective introspective candid Type personal motivational philosophical When to use this quote - stage performance - public speaking - therapy - media interviews Key Concepts persona objectivity emotional catharsis Questions to Reflect On - How does adopting a persona change your perception of personal pain? - When is it appropriate to use a character to reveal truth? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex issues or seem inauthentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-me/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [If i could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-i-could/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mike/) [Mike tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mike-tyson/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother and father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-and-father/) [Objectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectives/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Pimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimp/) [Politically correct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politically-correct/) [Portraying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portraying/) [Portraying Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portraying-mike-1828393/) [Sailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailing/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyson/) [Tyson Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyson-feel-1828394/) [Tyson Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyson-mother-1828395/) [Tyson Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyson-saying-1828392/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [If I was fighting myself, I always say that I would kill Mike Tyson but then again I don't know how hard a punch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/if-i-was-fighting-myself-i-always-say-that-i-would-kill-mike-tyson/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [ March 16th, Mike Tyson \[vs.\] Razor Ruddock, Razor Ruddock dies. 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How can you get burned out doing something you love? I ask you, have you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/guys-ask-me-don-t-i-get-burned-out-how-can-you-get-burned-out-doing/) [Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/) > [I'm very learning-disabled, and I think it drove me to what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/i-m-very-learning-disabled-and-i-think-it-drove-me-to-what-i-m-doing/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [We long for our father. We wear his clothes, and actually try to fill his shoes. . . . We hang on to him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/we-long-for-our-father-we-wear-his-clothes-and-actually-try-to-fill/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [Fans have been very important in my career. Even though I'm just doing me and doing my thing, they're the captains of this ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-royce/fans-have-been-very-important-in-my-career-even-though-i-m-just-doing/) [Prince Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-royce/) > [But don't call me an actor. I'm just a worker. I am an entertainer. Don't say that what I am doing is art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-bardem/but-don-t-call-me-an-actor-i-m-just-a-worker-i-am-an-entertainer-don/) [Javier Bardem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-bardem/) > [The great mystery to me is how restaurant critics think they can get away with doing their job without anybody noticing who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-allen/the-great-mystery-to-me-is-how-restaurant-critics-think-they-can-get/) [Ted Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-allen/) > [The idea of doing something that you've seen a thousand times before doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/the-idea-of-doing-something-that-you-ve-seen-a-thousand-times-before/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) ## More by Mike Tyson > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. Greatness is being accepted by the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/greatness-is-not-guarding-yourself-from-people-greatness-is-being/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [At one point, I thought life was about acquiring things. Life is totally about losing everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/at-one-point-i-thought-life-was-about-acquiring-things-life-is/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Being in the ring became my reality, and, in my reality, I'd think I was someone special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/being-in-the-ring-became-my-reality-and-in-my-reality-i-d-think-i-was/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If I was fighting myself, I always say that I would kill Mike Tyson but then again I don't know how hard a punch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/if-i-was-fighting-myself-i-always-say-that-i-would-kill-mike-tyson/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/yes-time-flies-and-where-did-it-leave-you-old-too-soon-smart-too-late/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [My career has been over since 1990.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/my-career-has-been-over-since-1990/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I love to hit people. I love to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-love-to-hit-people-i-love-to/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I never wanted to do anything else but fight, when I was a kid. I never had any broader perspective of my own perspective.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-never-wanted-to-do-anything-else-but-fight-when-i-was-a-kid-i-never/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I don't understand why people would want to get rid of pigeons. They don't bother no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-don-t-understand-why-people-would-want-to-get-rid-of-pigeons-they/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [“Mike tyson made a prolific quote that I will never forget. It came when he was being interviewed by a reporter about another boxers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/mike-tyson-made-a-prolific-quote-that-i-will-never-forget-it-came/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I'm the biggest fighter in the history of the sport. If you don't believe it, check the cash register.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-m-the-biggest-fighter-in-the-history-of-the-sport-if-you-don-t/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Tupac Shakur always wanted me to smoke weed with him, and I never did it, and I wish I did...That's my biggest regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/tupac-shakur-always-wanted-me-to-smoke-weed-with-him-and-i-never-did/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Real freedom is having nothing. I was freer when I didn't have a cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/real-freedom-is-having-nothing-i-was-freer-when-i-didn-t-have-a-cent/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [You need to learn independence. You have to be independent - it builds character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/you-need-to-learn-independence-you-have-to-be-independent-it-builds/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) [Explore all 381 Mike Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) ## More Doing me quotes > [People would ask me why I was doing what I was doing - but I always told them that I just loved to skate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-kerrigan/people-would-ask-me-why-i-was-doing-what-i-was-doing-but-i-always/) [Nancy Kerrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-kerrigan/) > [We long for our father. We wear his clothes, and actually try to fill his shoes. . . . We hang on to him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/we-long-for-our-father-we-wear-his-clothes-and-actually-try-to-fill/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [I've always said that you can't be the new Mel Blanc by doing Mel Blanc's voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/i-ve-always-said-that-you-can-t-be-the-new-mel-blanc-by-doing-mel/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [The great mystery to me is how restaurant critics think they can get away with doing their job without anybody noticing who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-allen/the-great-mystery-to-me-is-how-restaurant-critics-think-they-can-get/) [Ted Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-allen/) > [But don't call me an actor. I'm just a worker. I am an entertainer. Don't say that what I am doing is art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-bardem/but-don-t-call-me-an-actor-i-m-just-a-worker-i-am-an-entertainer-don/) [Javier Bardem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-bardem/) > [The idea of doing something that you've seen a thousand times before doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/the-idea-of-doing-something-that-you-ve-seen-a-thousand-times-before/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [Fans have been very important in my career. Even though I'm just doing me and doing my thing, they're the captains of this ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-royce/fans-have-been-very-important-in-my-career-even-though-i-m-just-doing/) [Prince Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-royce/) > [I'm very learning-disabled, and I think it drove me to what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/i-m-very-learning-disabled-and-i-think-it-drove-me-to-what-i-m-doing/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [Guys ask me, don't I get burned out? How can you get burned out doing something you love? I ask you, have you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/guys-ask-me-don-t-i-get-burned-out-how-can-you-get-burned-out-doing/) [Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/) > [At the end of the day I'm still doin me and I dont give a fukk what yhu think cuz I'm on that queen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-m-still-doin-me-and-i-dont-give-a-fukk-what/) [Angelica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica/) > [At one time they've been the most important thing to me. So I can't hear our records on the radio, I can't stand it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-davies/at-one-time-they-ve-been-the-most-important-thing-to-me-so-i-can-t/) [Ray Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-davies/) > [ I remember when I was doing Mermaids \[1990\], I was 16 and they gave me a B12 shot once. My parents weren't there, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-remember-when-i-was-doing-mermaids-1990-i-was-16-and-they-gave-me-a/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [As Aristotle wrote a long, long time ago, and I'm paraphrasing here, the goal is to avoid mediocrity by being prepared to try something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/as-aristotle-wrote-a-long-long-time-ago-and-i-m-paraphrasing-here-the/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Everyone seemed to be doing well except me and my career. And my accent was no helping me any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desi-arnaz/everyone-seemed-to-be-doing-well-except-me-and-my-career-and-my/) [Desi Arnaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desi-arnaz/) > [I'm going from doing all of the work to having to delegate the work - which is almost harder for me than doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/i-m-going-from-doing-all-of-the-work-to-having-to-delegate-the-work/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) [Browse all 81 Doing me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-me/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I'm on stage, I'm not me playing me. I'm somebody else doing me. I could never go on stage and be like, \"Hey, I'm Mike Tyson. My mother and father was in the sex industry.\" That's the politically correct way to say it, but I would really say, \"My mother and father were pimps and whores. 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