--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I lost my public self, or had it stolenIn…" description: "\"I lost my public self, or had it stolenIn a way, it was a form of identity theft.\" — Monica Lewinsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/monica-lewinsky-9034_form_i-lost-my-public-self-or-had-it-stolenin_1719926.jpg" --- # I lost my public self, or had it stolenIn a way, it was a… ![“I lost my public self, or had it stolenIn a way, it was a form of identity theft.” quote by Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/monica-lewinsky-9034_form_i-lost-my-public-self-or-had-it-stolenin_1719926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/monica-lewinsky-9034_form_i-lost-my-public-self-or-had-it-stolenin_1719926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/monica-lewinsky-9034_form_i-lost-my-public-self-or-had-it-stolenin_1719926.jpg) > “I lost my public self, or had it stolenIn a way, it was a form of identity theft.” [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Losing one's public persona can feel like identity theft, highlighting the fragility of self‑image. **In simple terms:** Public image loss feels like identity theft Key Takeaway Protect and rebuild your true self Themes identity privacy media Mood introspective hopeful Type personal psychological When to use this quote - social media crisis - public scandal - career transition Key Concepts Digital reputation management personal branding Questions to Reflect On - What defines your authentic self? - How can you safeguard your identity? A Different Perspective Rebuilding can be slow and painful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-theft/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) ## Related quotes > [I lost my public self, or had it stolen. In a way, it was a form of identity theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/i-lost-my-public-self-or-had-it-stolen-in-a-way-it-was-a-form-of/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [I lost interest in being in the public eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-snow/i-lost-interest-in-being-in-the-public-eye/) [Phoebe Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-snow/) > [As a senator, I raised the alarm about sub prime mortgages. I fought to hold reckless manufacturers accountable for toxic toys and household products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/as-a-senator-i-raised-the-alarm-about-sub-prime-mortgages-i-fought-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I got Twitter identity theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-banks/i-got-twitter-identity-theft/) [Elizabeth Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-banks/) > [Foster children are disproportionately victims of identity theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-langevin/foster-children-are-disproportionately-victims-of-identity-theft/) [James Langevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-langevin/) > [I knew I wanted to play around with genre-esque imagery, and the identity theft stuff came in the middle, when I was figuring out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/i-knew-i-wanted-to-play-around-with-genre-esque-imagery-and-the/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [As problems like identity theft become more prevalent, now more than ever, Americans need to take their financial health seriously - and this information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-hinojosa/as-problems-like-identity-theft-become-more-prevalent-now-more-than/) [Ruben Hinojosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-hinojosa/) > [“Identity is theft, don’t trust anyone whose state vector hasn’t forked for more than a gigasecond, change is the only constant, et bloody cetera.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/identity-is-theft-don-t-trust-anyone-whose-state-vector-hasn-t-forked/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [High bankruptcy rates, increased credit card debt, and identity theft make it imperative that all of us take an active role in providing financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-hinojosa/high-bankruptcy-rates-increased-credit-card-debt-and-identity-theft/) [Ruben Hinojosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-hinojosa/) > [It was really bizarre, that Sabzian business. You know I had no interest in being photographed before this incident. But then not just Sabzian—many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsen-makhmalbaf/it-was-really-bizarre-that-sabzian-business-you-know-i-had-no/) [Mohsen Makhmalbaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsen-makhmalbaf/) > [Identity theft is a serious crime that affects millions of Americans each year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/identity-theft-is-a-serious-crime-that-affects-millions-of-americans/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation - especially in the suburbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-bean/identity-theft-is-one-of-the-fastest-growing-crimes-in-the-nation/) [Melissa Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-bean/) > [As part of my efforts to fight identity theft, I worked with my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee to strengthen consumer protection with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-bean/as-part-of-my-efforts-to-fight-identity-theft-i-worked-with-my/) [Melissa Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-bean/) > [Each and every Notary Public plays a crucial role in combating identity theft. They serve as our front line of defense and the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-salazar/each-and-every-notary-public-plays-a-crucial-role-in-combating/) [Ken Salazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-salazar/) > [Your date of birth is a security point for identity theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/your-date-of-birth-is-a-security-point-for-identity-theft/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) ## More by Monica Lewinsky > [So it was sort of an odd time because I had been hired, but my paperwork hadn't gone through. So I worked as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/so-it-was-sort-of-an-odd-time-because-i-had-been-hired-but-my/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [I think probably the qualities that I look for in a man are somewhat different than they were before I became a public person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/i-think-probably-the-qualities-that-i-look-for-in-a-man-are-somewhat/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [I've always really been a romantic at heart, and I have always wanted kids, and I think the idea of sharing your life with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/i-ve-always-really-been-a-romantic-at-heart-and-i-have-always-wanted/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [Public shaming is a blood sport that has to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/public-shaming-is-a-blood-sport-that-has-to-stop/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [When I think of the person that I thought was Bill Clinton, I think he had genuine remorse. When I think of the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/when-i-think-of-the-person-that-i-thought-was-bill-clinton-i-think-he/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [I was worried about my mom more than I was worried about the president. 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Click with compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/be-mindful-of-clickbait-sensational-stories-designed-to-humiliate/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [When you see anyone being targeted, support her or him with a positive comment or emoji.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/when-you-see-anyone-being-targeted-support-her-or-him-with-a-positive/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [People who know Clinton knew the guy has a real problem keeping his hands off women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/people-who-know-clinton-knew-the-guy-has-a-real-problem-keeping-his/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) [Explore all 75 Monica Lewinsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) ## More Form quotes > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. 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