--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had parallel lives to pursue, I…" description: "\"If I had parallel lives to pursue, I would also want one as a painter.\" — Norman Spinrad" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/norman-spinrad-17982_artist_if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-woul_2301511.jpg" --- # If I had parallel lives to pursue, I would also want one… ![“If I had parallel lives to pursue, I would also want one as a painter.” quote by Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/norman-spinrad-17982_artist_if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-woul_2301511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/norman-spinrad-17982_artist_if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-woul_2301511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/norman-spinrad-17982_artist_if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-woul_2301511.jpg) > “If I had parallel lives to pursue, I would also want one as a painter.” [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A desire for multiple lives reflects yearning for varied creative expression, especially artistic pursuits. **In simple terms:** Wanting many lives shows a craving for artistic expression. Key Takeaway Explore diverse creative outlets. Themes creativity identity choice art Mood inspirational thoughtful Type personal creative When to use this quote - career planning - art projects - personal growth Key Concepts multiverse theory artistic ambition career fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - Which artistic skill would you develop? - How do you prioritize creative goals? A Different Perspective Balancing many aspirations can dilute focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Parallel lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parallel-lives/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Pursue Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-want-654957/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-painter-2207950/) ## Related quotes > [Pursue whatever it is that you want to do with your life. It is the only secret to happiness that I know except for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/pursue-whatever-it-is-that-you-want-to-do-with-your-life-it-is-the/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [If you feel strongly about someone, go up to them. Pursue what you want in life. Why be shy about something like that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yohji-yamamoto/if-you-feel-strongly-about-someone-go-up-to-them-pursue-what-you-want/) [Yohji Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yohji-yamamoto/) > [Don't pursue something because you 'want to be great.' Pursue something because it fascinates you, because the pursuit itself engages and compels you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-musk/don-t-pursue-something-because-you-want-to-be-great-pursue-something/) [Justine Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-musk/) > [“When I look at you I want to be a painter because to see such a beauty and not being able to paint is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galib-mammadov/when-i-look-at-you-i-want-to-be-a-painter-because-to-see-such-a/) [Galib Mammadov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galib-mammadov/) > [I was too practical to want to be a painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/i-was-too-practical-to-want-to-be-a-painter/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [I don't want to pursue someone at all - I want someone to pursue me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-don-t-want-to-pursue-someone-at-all-i-want-someone-to-pursue-me/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [Folks should find what really inspires them; they should always pursue what they want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rubins/folks-should-find-what-really-inspires-them-they-should-always-pursue/) [Kathleen Rubins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rubins/) > [“Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want. - Jim Rohn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/learn-how-to-be-happy-with-what-you-have-while-you-pursue-all-that-2/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Your job, work, life assignment must be the spark that fuels your fire. It must be a passion that you pursue. You must want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/your-job-work-life-assignment-must-be-the-spark-that-fuels-your-fire/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“Be grateful for what you already have while you pursue what you want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/be-grateful-for-what-you-already-have-while-you-pursue-what-you-want/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [“And after years of hearing the heart-cry of women, I am convinced beyond a doubt of this: God wants to be loved. He wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/and-after-years-of-hearing-the-heart-cry-of-women-i-am-convinced/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/learn-how-to-be-happy-with-what-you-have-while-you-pursue-all-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I don't want to be super serious but I want to have fun with my platform. I want to touch people, I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-don-t-want-to-be-super-serious-but-i-want-to-have-fun-with-my/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [Many of us are afraid to follow our passions, to pursue what we want most because it means taking risks and even facing failure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-allen/many-of-us-are-afraid-to-follow-our-passions-to-pursue-what-we-want/) [Robyn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-allen/) > [We've had parallel lives. And frankly, I prefer mine to his. I would not like to be George Bush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/we-ve-had-parallel-lives-and-frankly-i-prefer-mine-to-his-i-would-not/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More by Norman Spinrad > [The saddest day of your life is when you decide to sell out, and nobody wants to buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/the-saddest-day-of-your-life-is-when-you-decide-to-sell-out-and/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [When you're in the States and you're a writer and you've got money and you walk into a bank, you're a bum with money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/when-you-re-in-the-states-and-you-re-a-writer-and-you-ve-got-money/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [It’s trite to say that the world has gotten smaller in the age of globalization, but my travels have told me that it’s wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/it-s-trite-to-say-that-the-world-has-gotten-smaller-in-the-age-of/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [“Stay a dreamer, and you'll never have your dream; get down in the nitty-gritty, and when you get your dream you see what horseshit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/stay-a-dreamer-and-you-ll-never-have-your-dream-get-down-in-the-nitty/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [“Cat Rambo: Where do you think the perennial debate between what is literary fiction and what is genre is sited? Norman Spinrad: I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/cat-rambo-where-do-you-think-the-perennial-debate-between-what-is/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [Chaos is the enemy of Order but the enemy of Chaos is also the enemy of Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/chaos-is-the-enemy-of-order-but-the-enemy-of-chaos-is-also-the-enemy/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [“You can't make a revolutionary omelet without breaking heads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/you-can-t-make-a-revolutionary-omelet-without-breaking-heads/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [I never learned to read music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/i-never-learned-to-read-music/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [I've always been interested in the relationship between total external surround, culture, the political matrix, technology, etc., and the internal human consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-the-relationship-between-total/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [There are certain things that ordinary people have that celebrities don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/there-are-certain-things-that-ordinary-people-have-that-celebrities/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [I write in American slang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/i-write-in-american-slang/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [I must admit to being greatly influenced by Joseph Campbell's The Hero With a Thousand Faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/i-must-admit-to-being-greatly-influenced-by-joseph-campbell-s-the/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [If it's not American, the French won't go see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/if-it-s-not-american-the-french-won-t-go-see-it/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [I believe that interest in heroes is universal and eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/i-believe-that-interest-in-heroes-is-universal-and-eternal/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) > [“It ain't power that corrupts, it's the changes you put your head through getting it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/it-ain-t-power-that-corrupts-it-s-the-changes-you-put-your-head/) [Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) [Explore all 35 Norman Spinrad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I had parallel lives to pursue, I would also want one as a painter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Spinrad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-would-also-want-one-as-a-painter/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-would-also-want-one-as-a-painter/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/norman-spinrad-17982_artist_if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-woul_2301511.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/norman-spinrad-17982_artist_if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-woul_2301511.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/norman-spinrad-17982_artist_if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-woul_2301511.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I had parallel lives to pursue, I would also want one as a painter.” — Norman Spinrad", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norman Spinrad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I had parallel lives to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-would-also-want-one-as-a-painter/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/if-i-had-parallel-lives-to-pursue-i-would-also-want-one-as-a-painter/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```