--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're just people from everywhere…" description: "\"We're just people from everywhere, looking for identity. New York, with the history of freedom, and dreams, and realized dreams, people come to this pl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/pawel-althamer-54988_dream_we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-lookin_295003.jpg" --- # We're just people from everywhere, looking for identity… ![“We're just people from everywhere, looking for identity. New York, with the history of freedom, and dreams, and realized dreams, people come to this place like a magnet. You are really coming here to do something that you love. If you lose that idea of yourself, you're not in the lake, you're…” quote by Pawel Althamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/pawel-althamer-54988_dream_we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-lookin_295003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/pawel-althamer-54988_dream_we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-lookin_295003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/pawel-althamer-54988_dream_we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-lookin_295003.jpg) > “We're just people from everywhere, looking for identity. New York, with the history of freedom, and dreams, and realized dreams, people come to this place like a magnet. You are really coming here to do something that you love. If you lose that idea of yourself, you're not in the lake, you're dried out.” [Pawel Althamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-althamer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People seek purpose and belonging in places promising freedom, but losing self‑direction leads to emptiness. **In simple terms:** Finding purpose in a vibrant city; losing self leads to emptiness. Key Takeaway Stay true to your passions. Themes identity purpose urban life freedom dreams Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career moves - immigration - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What drives your sense of belonging? - How do you maintain identity in a new place? A Different Perspective The city can’t replace personal meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-new-2829181/) [Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lake/) [Looking Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-identity-1225569/) [Magnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnet/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-come/) [York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york/) ## Related quotes > [“i think thats one of the problems with the world today, nobody knows who they are. everyone is running around looking for an identity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr-2/i-think-thats-one-of-the-problems-with-the-world-today-nobody-knows/) [Hubert Selby Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr-2/) > [There is a restless identity in the New World. The New World needs an identity without guilt or blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/there-is-a-restless-identity-in-the-new-world-the-new-world-needs-an/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [Lake Como has always been a magnet for the elite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/lake-como-has-always-been-a-magnet-for-the-elite/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Sarah Palin is brilliant. She is a media magnet and a media magnate. She creates headlines and draws crowds wherever she goes, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/sarah-palin-is-brilliant-she-is-a-media-magnet-and-a-media-magnate/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [I collect dice and I collect coins. I travel the world so I love dice, I always have dice on me. I collect magnets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/i-collect-dice-and-i-collect-coins-i-travel-the-world-so-i-love-dice/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [Just luxuriate in a certain memory, and the details will come. It's like a magnet attracting steel filings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/just-luxuriate-in-a-certain-memory-and-the-details-will-come-it-s/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [You are the most powerful magnet in the universe! You contain a magnetic power within you that is more powerful than anything in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-are-the-most-powerful-magnet-in-the-universe-you-contain-a/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [ He \[Donald Trump\] is like - he's a magnet for crime and extortion and, you know, just really criminal investments which are extremely dangerous. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/he-donald-trump-is-like-he-s-a-magnet-for-crime-and-extortion-and-you/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I'm just concerned that as long as this caliphate exists, it provides this magnet for radicalization, and we're likely to see more attacks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/i-m-just-concerned-that-as-long-as-this-caliphate-exists-it-provides/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [I think my path would have always gone back to or delivered me to wildlife. I think wildlife is just like a magnet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/i-think-my-path-would-have-always-gone-back-to-or-delivered-me-to/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [Sometimes I think I'm a nihilist because it doesn't matter, none of this matters. We're all following the will of some unknowable higher power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/sometimes-i-think-i-m-a-nihilist-because-it-doesn-t-matter-none-of/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“home is a magnet that lures back even its most abstracted children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/home-is-a-magnet-that-lures-back-even-its-most-abstracted-children/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [And just so you know for the future, I like my double-chocolate chip cookies warm and soft in the middle...and without magnets glued to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/and-just-so-you-know-for-the-future-i-like-my-double-chocolate-chip/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [Where did you find that one?" "I have no idea. I'm a magnet for crazies, I guess." "They must be able to sense a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/where-did-you-find-that-one-i-have-no-idea-i-m-a-magnet-for-crazies-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Your heart is like a magnet, Once placed on the right side the to parts go together perfectly, But once flipped to the worng…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rehn-williams/your-heart-is-like-a-magnet-once-placed-on-the-right-side-the-to/) [Rehn Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rehn-williams/) ## More by Pawel Althamer > [I'm a person who's coming New York because of the magnetism of the people. I'm not coming because of expectations. I'm coming here because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/i-m-a-person-who-s-coming-new-york-because-of-the-magnetism-of-the/) [Pawel Althamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-althamer/) > [I discovered there are some messages, left by other artists. I've just started to draw, say, to share the visions with them, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/i-discovered-there-are-some-messages-left-by-other-artists-i-ve-just/) [Pawel Althamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-althamer/) > [As we know, the balance of the economy of the world, the proportion is crazy. People are probably looking for a balance. The nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/as-we-know-the-balance-of-the-economy-of-the-world-the-proportion-is/) [Pawel Althamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-althamer/) > [I think that the most exciting thing is to find a tool, like an art, with an opportunity to share. Real roots come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/i-think-that-the-most-exciting-thing-is-to-find-a-tool-like-an-art/) [Pawel Althamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-althamer/) > [You can really use others to recognize your emotions. Many people, they have no contact with their emotions. They don't know what's happening with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/you-can-really-use-others-to-recognize-your-emotions-many-people-they/) [Pawel Althamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-althamer/) [Explore all 6 Pawel Althamer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-althamer/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're just people from everywhere, looking for identity. New York, with the history of freedom, and dreams, and realized dreams, people come to this place like a magnet. You are really coming here to do something that you love. If you lose that idea of yourself, you're not in the lake, you're dried out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pawel Althamer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-looking-for-identity-new-york-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-looking-for-identity-new-york-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/pawel-althamer-54988_dream_we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-lookin_295003.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/pawel-althamer-54988_dream_we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-lookin_295003.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55e/pawel-althamer-54988_dream_we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-lookin_295003.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We're just people from everywhere, looking for identity. New York, with the history of freedom, and dreams…” — Pawel Althamer", "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": "Pawel Althamer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-althamer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We're just people from everywhere, looking...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-looking-for-identity-new-york-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-althamer/we-re-just-people-from-everywhere-looking-for-identity-new-york-with/#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 } } ] } ```