--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to have experience, you know what I…" description: "\"I had to have experience, you know what I mean? Because I've been doing this since I was 14... I couldn't write about anything at 14. I had to live som..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/mnek-7800_anything_i-had-to-have-experience-you-know-what-i_1194675.jpg" --- # I had to have experience, you know what I mean? Because… ![“I had to have experience, you know what I mean? Because I've been doing this since I was 14... I couldn't write about anything at 14. I had to live some life. I definitely lived some life.” quote by MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/mnek-7800_anything_i-had-to-have-experience-you-know-what-i_1194675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/mnek-7800_anything_i-had-to-have-experience-you-know-what-i_1194675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/mnek-7800_anything_i-had-to-have-experience-you-know-what-i_1194675.jpg) > “I had to have experience, you know what I mean? Because I've been doing this since I was 14... I couldn't write about anything at 14. I had to live some life. I definitely lived some life.” [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Real‑world experiences shape artistic authenticity; lived experience provides material that pure imagination cannot replace. **In simple terms:** Life experience fuels genuine creativity. Key Takeaway Seek diverse experiences to enrich your art. Themes creativity experience authenticity growth Mood inspired thoughtful Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - acting - visual arts - public speaking Key Concepts narrative identity skill development Questions to Reflect On - What experience most shaped your voice? - How can you translate life into art? A Different Perspective Relying solely on experience may limit imagination; balance lived and imagined insights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I got fascinated with all of this work in terms of spirituality, philosophy, behavioral science when I was around 18 years old. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-shetty/i-got-fascinated-with-all-of-this-work-in-terms-of-spirituality/) [Jay Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-shetty/) > [The first time I tried to write was when I was 14, after I got an electric guitar. I put a song together, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/the-first-time-i-tried-to-write-was-when-i-was-14-after-i-got-an/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [When you can't read or write at 14 or 15, in most cases you're headed for trouble, and trouble was finding me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beamon/when-you-can-t-read-or-write-at-14-or-15-in-most-cases-you-re-headed/) [Bob Beamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beamon/) > [I've always done more than I ever thought I would. Becoming a professor - I never would have imagined that. Writing books - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-gilpin-faust/i-ve-always-done-more-than-i-ever-thought-i-would-becoming-a/) [Drew Gilpin Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-gilpin-faust/) > [LEGACY : How I LIVED my life and how I LED others TO live!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/legacy-how-i-lived-my-life-and-how-i-led-others-to-live/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Only a life lived for others is a life worthwile..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-a-life-lived-for-others-is-a-life-worthwile/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“I had been right, I was still right, I was always right. I had lived my life one way and I could just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-had-been-right-i-was-still-right-i-was-always-right-i-had-lived-my/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I have lived my life in the slipstream of experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/i-have-lived-my-life-in-the-slipstream-of-experience/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [I still live in the same place I've lived all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-straight/i-still-live-in-the-same-place-i-ve-lived-all-my-life/) [Susan Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-straight/) > [It doesn't matter what people think of me. I've lived my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/it-doesn-t-matter-what-people-think-of-me-i-ve-lived-my-life/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [I definitely lived my life like I wasn't in the public eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannen-doherty/i-definitely-lived-my-life-like-i-wasn-t-in-the-public-eye/) [Shannen Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannen-doherty/) > [I have lived all my life as part of an ethnic conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ori-gersht/i-have-lived-all-my-life-as-part-of-an-ethnic-conflict/) [Ori Gersht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ori-gersht/) > [In his own way, he's lived life with all the intensity he could muster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-his-own-way-he-s-lived-life-with-all-the-intensity-he-could-muster/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [A life not lived for others is not a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/a-life-not-lived-for-others-is-not-a-life/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I've always lived my life fearlessly, and what I want to do with my life, I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-wood/i-ve-always-lived-my-life-fearlessly-and-what-i-want-to-do-with-my/) [Sam Taylor-Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-wood/) ## More by MNEK > [When I wrote 'Paradise,' it was going to be an interlude - like a segue from the song before. Then I just added more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/when-i-wrote-paradise-it-was-going-to-be-an-interlude-like-a-segue/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I almost get quite scared talking about it. It's happened, obviously. I did meet Madonna and I did work with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-almost-get-quite-scared-talking-about-it-it-s-happened-obviously-i/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [The way Beyonce works, the song is a jigsaw piece and then she will piece various elements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/the-way-beyonce-works-the-song-is-a-jigsaw-piece-and-then-she-will/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [If I'm writing a song for Karen Harding, I know I can't impose what I want to say onto her. I literally have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/if-i-m-writing-a-song-for-karen-harding-i-know-i-can-t-impose-what-i/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [There's an underlying sense with 'Tongue' that... it's really... it's real. I mean that in the sense that now I'm not afraid to touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/there-s-an-underlying-sense-with-tongue-that-it-s-really-it-s-real-i/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I always knew I wanted to work in music. There was no plan B.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-work-in-music-there-was-no-plan-b/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I'm very thankful that I'm in a position where I'll never be without a session. I'll always have someone who will want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-m-very-thankful-that-i-m-in-a-position-where-i-ll-never-be-without/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I keep quiet and let the music do the talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-keep-quiet-and-let-the-music-do-the-talking/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I think 'Girlfriend' in particular is definitely one of the songs that is angled towards early 2000s, late '90s, R&B pop and those kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-think-girlfriend-in-particular-is-definitely-one-of-the-songs-that/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [Having the opportunity to work with someone like Beyonce is definitely going to hopefully open a few doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/having-the-opportunity-to-work-with-someone-like-beyonce-is/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [We have a lot of black British men who are killing it: John Boyega, Stormzy, Anthony Joshua, Tinie Tempah, and Idris Elba, of course.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/we-have-a-lot-of-black-british-men-who-are-killing-it-john-boyega/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I love Usher's 'Confessions.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-love-usher-s-confessions/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I don't feel pressure, I think there's fun to have. And I want to show that being gay and of color doesn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-don-t-feel-pressure-i-think-there-s-fun-to-have-and-i-want-to-show/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I was someone who knew what they wanted to do for so long. I was always fascinated by music, always a student of pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-was-someone-who-knew-what-they-wanted-to-do-for-so-long-i-was/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I think there's so many amazing LGBTQ artists, ranging from commercial to underground, that are influencing people at large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-think-there-s-so-many-amazing-lgbtq-artists-ranging-from-commercial/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) [Explore all 87 MNEK quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had to have experience, you know what I mean? Because I've been doing this since I was 14... I couldn't write about anything at 14. I had to live some life. 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