--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Choose whatever box you like, Mike. Just…" description: "\"“Choose whatever box you like, Mike. Just don't put me in one, son. Believe me, I won't fit.”\" — Nikki Grimes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/nikki-grimes-17676_choose_choose-whatever-box-you-like-mike-just-d_2341336.png" --- # Choose whatever box you like, Mike. Just don't put me in… ![“Choose whatever box you like, Mike. Just don't put me in one, son. Believe me, I won't fit.” quote by Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/nikki-grimes-17676_choose_choose-whatever-box-you-like-mike-just-d_2341336.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/nikki-grimes-17676_choose_choose-whatever-box-you-like-mike-just-d_2341336.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/nikki-grimes-17676_choose_choose-whatever-box-you-like-mike-just-d_2341336.png) > ““Choose whatever box you like, Mike. Just don't put me in one, son. Believe me, I won't fit.”” [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates resisting categorization; insists on individuality beyond imposed labels. **In simple terms:** Reject being boxed in. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique identity without labels. Themes individuality identity freedom Mood reflective defiant Type personal social When to use this quote - personal branding - education - creative expression - social activism Key Concepts self‑definition social constructs Questions to Reflect On - What labels serve you positively? - How do you express individuality in constrained environments? A Different Perspective Labels can sometimes help communication and organization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I still don't think it's sunk in that I won the Heisman. 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I'm not getting anymore; otherwise I'll end up like Mike Tyson with a tattoo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-got-my-very-last-tattoo-after-my-father-died-i-m-not-getting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People say I don't have great tools. They say that I can't throw like Ellis Valentine or run like Tim Raines or hit with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/people-say-i-don-t-have-great-tools-they-say-that-i-can-t-throw-like/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [When I was a little kid I used to go on the playground and say: today I will shoot like Bird, pass like Magic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-used-to-go-on-the-playground-and-say-today/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) > [I was taught coming up in the Phillies organization to be seen and not heard by people like Pete Rose, my hero growing up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/i-was-taught-coming-up-in-the-phillies-organization-to-be-seen-and/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [So I'm in the library, and I have keyboards out and my headphones out. Everybody's like, "Mike are you making beats right now?" and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-posner/so-i-m-in-the-library-and-i-have-keyboards-out-and-my-headphones-out/) [Mike Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-posner/) > [ I remember watching Mike \[Michael Jordan\]. I remember him having a royal blue blazer and all black t-shirt and he came out of a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-remember-watching-mike-michael-jordan-i-remember-him-having-a-royal/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [I like Mike D. We kept trying to get him to go solo. He wouldn't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ad-rock/i-like-mike-d-we-kept-trying-to-get-him-to-go-solo-he-wouldn-t-do-it/) [Ad-Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ad-rock/) > [Was charlie sheen on like mike?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-blackson/was-charlie-sheen-on-like-mike/) [Michael Blackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-blackson/) > [If I could do it over, I'd want to come up to the big leagues like Mike Trout. He's exciting and I like watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/if-i-could-do-it-over-i-d-want-to-come-up-to-the-big-leagues-like/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I don't want to do music in a box, like everybody say what I can't do, 'he can't say this.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/i-don-t-want-to-do-music-in-a-box-like-everybody-say-what-i-can-t-do/) [Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/) > [I think the world tries to put people in a box, like this is the only appropriate way to be beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/i-think-the-world-tries-to-put-people-in-a-box-like-this-is-the-only/) [Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/) > [I'd love to be able to fit in a box. Like one of those people who fit into small boxes. I'd love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-d-love-to-be-able-to-fit-in-a-box-like-one-of-those-people-who-fit/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) ## More by Nikki Grimes > [“Do something about it, or shut up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/do-something-about-it-or-shut-up/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [Look around. Take the tour. Fear hangs on the wall and shame sometimes. Emotional dislocation too. But I am brave in my admission. Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/look-around-take-the-tour-fear-hangs-on-the-wall-and-shame-sometimes/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [Something about your life always makes its way into your stories. That's just the nature of the beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/something-about-your-life-always-makes-its-way-into-your-stories-that/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“Jealousy is a waste of energy...focus on what I have, not what I don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/jealousy-is-a-waste-of-energy-focus-on-what-i-have-not-what-i-don-t/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“The foster home they were leaving was no place to be. The mother, Mrs. Boone, slapped Paris around every time her real daughter did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/the-foster-home-they-were-leaving-was-no-place-to-be-the-mother-mrs/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“The fact is that you are more comfortable with myth than man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/the-fact-is-that-you-are-more-comfortable-with-myth-than-man/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“He'll never do it again,' she swears, but he will because she'll let him. Now me? I've got no use for imitation love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/he-ll-never-do-it-again-she-swears-but-he-will-because-she-ll-let-him/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“Forget who I really am, who I really want to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/forget-who-i-really-am-who-i-really-want-to-be/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [For I am coconut / and the heart of me / is sweeter / than you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/for-i-am-coconut-and-the-heart-of-me-is-sweeter-than-you-know/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“So don't tell me that I can't fit in. My heart beats like a talking drum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/so-don-t-tell-me-that-i-can-t-fit-in-my-heart-beats-like-a-talking/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [In one sense, the stories I read betrayed me. Too few gave me back my mirror image. Fewer still spoke to, or acknowledged, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/in-one-sense-the-stories-i-read-betrayed-me-too-few-gave-me-back-my/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“You laugh, rap my woody shell with wicked whispers shaped like knuckles, then toss me aside. Lucky for me, I don't bruise easily. Besides,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/you-laugh-rap-my-woody-shell-with-wicked-whispers-shaped-like/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“If a dream is in your heart, you never lose it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/if-a-dream-is-in-your-heart-you-never-lose-it/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [Something about your life always makes its way into your stories. Thats just the nature of the beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/something-about-your-life-always-makes-its-way-into-your-stories/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [“At the edge of heartbreak, we both take a leap into the unknown...That's when we see it, a buoy callled friendship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/at-the-edge-of-heartbreak-we-both-take-a-leap-into-the-unknown-that-s/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) [Explore all 36 Nikki Grimes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) ## More Choose quotes > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [If somebody asks me to choose a biopic, it would be Narain Karthikeyan because I love racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/if-somebody-asks-me-to-choose-a-biopic-it-would-be-narain-karthikeyan/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...so you gotta choose who is good for you! Be wise, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-so-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not opposed - we manufacture a lot of socks in North Carolina - I just choose not to wear them. It's a Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-m-not-opposed-we-manufacture-a-lot-of-socks-in-north-carolina-i/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Having too many options is bad. I want one person, just one. Not a whole bunch to choose from,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderickthefirst/having-too-many-options-is-bad-i-want-one-person-just-one-not-a-whole/) RoderickTheFirst > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) Browse all 3,851 Choose quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Choose whatever box you like, Mike. Just don't put me in one, son. 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