--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always said, 'I am a selector, I am…" description: "\"I've always said, 'I am a selector, I am not defector' - the first few phrases in English I learned. I said I hate 'defector'; something defective abou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_bad_i-ve-always-said-i-am-a-selector-i-am-no_1575053.png" --- # I've always said, 'I am a selector, I am not defector'… ![“I've always said, 'I am a selector, I am not defector' - the first few phrases in English I learned. I said I hate 'defector'; something defective about the people. It's a bad word.” quote by Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_bad_i-ve-always-said-i-am-a-selector-i-am-no_1575053.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_bad_i-ve-always-said-i-am-a-selector-i-am-no_1575053.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_bad_i-ve-always-said-i-am-a-selector-i-am-no_1575053.png) > “I've always said, 'I am a selector, I am not defector' - the first few phrases in English I learned. I said I hate 'defector'; something defective about the people. It's a bad word.” [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## 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 identifies as a selector, rejecting the term defector, viewing it as a negative label for people. **In simple terms:** Prefers “selector” over “defector,” seeing the latter as harmful. Key Takeaway Choose language that empowers, not marginalizes. Themes identity language labeling Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal branding - team dynamics - social inclusion Key Concepts sociolinguistics self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How do words shape self‑identity? - Can “defector” ever be neutral? A Different Perspective Labels can reinforce stereotypes despite intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defectors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defectors/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [He was a genuine defector. Yurchenko was a real traitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleg-kalugin/he-was-a-genuine-defector-yurchenko-was-a-real-traitor/) Oleg Kalugin > [To tell you the truth, people might think going from a model to a North Korean defector would've been difficult in appearance. For me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/to-tell-you-the-truth-people-might-think-going-from-a-model-to-a/) [HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/) > [“would strain credibility that such privileges would be awarded to an intelligence defector who had refused to cooperate with Russian authorities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-jay-epstein/would-strain-credibility-that-such-privileges-would-be-awarded-to-an/) [Edward Jay Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-jay-epstein/) > [For people who love Tribe, I'm the defector. They say, 'You should get back with Ali to do the beats.' But a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/for-people-who-love-tribe-i-m-the-defector-they-say-you-should-get/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [North Korean defectors often find it hard to settle down. It is not easy for somebody who’s escaped a totalitarian country to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-demick/north-korean-defectors-often-find-it-hard-to-settle-down-it-is-not/) [Barbara Demick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-demick/) > [I don't think the current regime of South Korea will deal actively with the issue of North Korean defectors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young-sam/i-don-t-think-the-current-regime-of-south-korea-will-deal-actively/) [Kim Young-sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-young-sam/) > [The Yuppies are not defectors from revolt, they are a new race, assured, amnestied, exculpated, moving with ease in the world of performance, mentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/the-yuppies-are-not-defectors-from-revolt-they-are-a-new-race-assured/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [North Korean defectors can usually tell when other defectors are lying about their past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korean-defectors-can-usually-tell-when-other-defectors-are/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [North Korean defectors who speak out against the regime always feel nervous. We never know what the North Korean government is planning. It's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korean-defectors-who-speak-out-against-the-regime-always-feel/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [Living in China, I found out that the bright new world was not for me, not for defectors. My life in North Korea had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/living-in-china-i-found-out-that-the-bright-new-world-was-not-for-me/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [I feel very sorry for the one or two North Korean defectors who were caught by Chinese police while entering South Korean or foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young-sam/i-feel-very-sorry-for-the-one-or-two-north-korean-defectors-who-were/) [Kim Young-sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-young-sam/) > [“Author interview with Chun Jung-hee, head nurse at Hanawon resettlement centre in South Korea. The government-funded centre has measured and weighed North Korean defectors”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/author-interview-with-chun-jung-hee-head-nurse-at-hanawon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is natural for us to pay attention to North Korea and human rights issues of North Korean defectors but I wish people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hark-joon-lee/it-is-natural-for-us-to-pay-attention-to-north-korea-and-human-rights/) [Hark-Joon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hark-joon-lee/) > [I met Lee Harvey Oswald, in Moscow just after he defected. One night I was having dinner with a friend, an Italian newspaper cor­respondent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-met-lee-harvey-oswald-in-moscow-just-after-he-defected-one-night-i/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [If defectors say they had high-level connections in Pyongyang or came from an esteemed institution in the North, they can gain better employment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/if-defectors-say-they-had-high-level-connections-in-pyongyang-or-came/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) ## More by Mikhail Baryshnikov > [I am not the first straight dancer or the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-am-not-the-first-straight-dancer-or-the-last/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Working is living to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/working-is-living-to-me/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I was always interested in photography and other forms of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-was-always-interested-in-photography-and-other-forms-of-art/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [In the second part of life you get rid of stuff you've accumulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/in-the-second-part-of-life-you-get-rid-of-stuff-you-ve-accumulated/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [You don't measure life by receiving awards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/you-don-t-measure-life-by-receiving-awards/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/no-one-is-born-a-dancer-you-have-to-want-it-more-than-anything/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I want to do exactly what I want to do. I'd rather gamble on the box office than beg for a grant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-want-to-do-exactly-what-i-want-to-do-i-d-rather-gamble-on-the-box/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I always had a kind of strange relationship with New York City, with total love affair in the beginning then retreat during the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-always-had-a-kind-of-strange-relationship-with-new-york-city-with/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Running a company is pretty demanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/running-a-company-is-pretty-demanding/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I like the most provocative and most surprising partnerships on stage. Intensity and surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-like-the-most-provocative-and-most-surprising-partnerships-on-stage/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I'll tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/when-a-body-moves-it-s-the-most-revealing-thing-dance-for-me-a-minute/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I - you know, I'm not an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-you-know-i-m-not-an-actor/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [If your only dance experience is the Nutcracker, it will be a shock; hopefully shocking in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/if-your-only-dance-experience-is-the-nutcracker-it-will-be-a-shock/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [People dance at any age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/people-dance-at-any-age/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-do-not-try-to-dance-better-than-anyone-else-i-only-try-to-to-dance/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) [Explore all 128 Mikhail Baryshnikov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always said, 'I am a selector, I am not defector' - the first few phrases in English I learned. I said I hate 'defector'; something defective about the people. 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