--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There used to be a real me, but I had it…" description: "\"There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed.\" — Peter Sellers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/peter-sellers-14147_had_there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it_627343.png" --- # There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed. ![“There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed.” quote by Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/peter-sellers-14147_had_there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it_627343.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/peter-sellers-14147_had_there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it_627343.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/peter-sellers-14147_had_there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it_627343.png) > “There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed.” [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity can be altered or discarded, suggesting that self is a construct that can be reshaped or removed. **In simple terms:** Identity is a construct that can be changed. Key Takeaway Explore and redefine self. Themes identity selfconstruction transformation Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - therapy - career change - artistic reinvention - personal branding Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself are essential? - How does change affect relationships? A Different Perspective Changing identity may cause loss of continuity and social friction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [There is no me. I do not exist. There used to be a me but I had it surgically removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/there-is-no-me-i-do-not-exist-there-used-to-be-a-me-but-i-had-it/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [“There used to be a me, but I had it surgically removed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/there-used-to-be-a-me-but-i-had-it-surgically-removed/) [peter sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [I used to be real stubborn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-holland/i-used-to-be-real-stubborn/) [Kevin Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-holland/) > [When I signed the license, I thought the media wasn't going to pick up on it if I used my real name, Nicholai Hilton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-hilton/when-i-signed-the-license-i-thought-the-media-wasn-t-going-to-pick-up/) [Nicky Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-hilton/) > [Life was tough for me. When I was a kid, nobody played with me because they thought I looked ugly with my extra thumb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/life-was-tough-for-me-when-i-was-a-kid-nobody-played-with-me-because/) [Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/) > [Religion is not removed by removing superstition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/religion-is-not-removed-by-removing-superstition/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I don't believe any pair of people had been more removed physically from the rest of the world than we were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-don-t-believe-any-pair-of-people-had-been-more-removed-physically/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [“Now, though, there was a second part, an artifact of his recent illness, as if his melancholy had, in a universe adjacent to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/now-though-there-was-a-second-part-an-artifact-of-his-recent-illness/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) > [The sublime is only a step removed from the ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/the-sublime-is-only-a-step-removed-from-the-ridiculous/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [“Daily chronic fatigue can be an indication that something is wrong in your environment that needs to be identified and removed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/daily-chronic-fatigue-can-be-an-indication-that-something-is-wrong-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Every few minutes or so I would remember the look from the man who had wanted fifty cents, and I'd look at that framed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/every-few-minutes-or-so-i-would-remember-the-look-from-the-man-who/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [We got latched together and I was hoping you could separate us? (Amanda) They were made by your stepfather. Any chance you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/we-got-latched-together-and-i-was-hoping-you-could-separate-us-amanda/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I'm so far removed from live playing any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-hammer/i-m-so-far-removed-from-live-playing-any-more/) [Jan Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-hammer/) > [ One of the great crimes of the Bloomberg/Klein administration \[in New York City\] is that they've removed themselves from communities, as if communities have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/one-of-the-great-crimes-of-the-bloomberg-klein-administration-in-new/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [“When we removed your son, we replaced him with nothing!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-malema/when-we-removed-your-son-we-replaced-him-with-nothing/) [Julius Malema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-malema/) ## More by Peter Sellers > [When I look at myself, I see a person who strangely lacks what I consider the ingredients of a personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/when-i-look-at-myself-i-see-a-person-who-strangely-lacks-what-i/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [If you ask me to play myself, I will not know what to do. I do not know who or what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/if-you-ask-me-to-play-myself-i-will-not-know-what-to-do-i-do-not-know/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [Vocal music is an attempt to take the whole human being and project it into space. It is the ultimate gesture of getting out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/vocal-music-is-an-attempt-to-take-the-whole-human-being-and-project/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/gentlemen-you-can-t-fight-in-here-this-is-the-war-room/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [Dad was convinced always that I was going to be a road sweeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/dad-was-convinced-always-that-i-was-going-to-be-a-road-sweeper/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [Is there anybody hiding there in the dark?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/is-there-anybody-hiding-there-in-the-dark/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [I believe in astrology and the spirits. I'm a Virgo myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/i-believe-in-astrology-and-the-spirits-i-m-a-virgo-myself/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [I writhe when I see myself on the screen. I'm such a dreadfully clumsy hulking image. I say to myself, "Why doesn't he get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/i-writhe-when-i-see-myself-on-the-screen-i-m-such-a-dreadfully-clumsy/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [I'm a classic example of all humorists - only funny when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/i-m-a-classic-example-of-all-humorists-only-funny-when-i-m-working/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [Some forms of reality are so horrible we refuse to face them, unless we are trapped into it by comedy. To label any subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/some-forms-of-reality-are-so-horrible-we-refuse-to-face-them-unless/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [Now then, what do we know? One, that Professor Fassbinder and his daughter have been kidnapped. Two, that someone has kidnapped them. Three, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/now-then-what-do-we-know-one-that-professor-fassbinder-and-his/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [I might have got somewhere with 'The Ladykillers,' but forty minutes were cut. A lot of me was cut with that forty minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/i-might-have-got-somewhere-with-the-ladykillers-but-forty-minutes/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [Women are more difficult to handle than men. It's their minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/women-are-more-difficult-to-handle-than-men-it-s-their-minds/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [To label any subject unsuitable for comedy is to admit defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/to-label-any-subject-unsuitable-for-comedy-is-to-admit-defeat/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [My mum very much wanted me to go into the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/my-mum-very-much-wanted-me-to-go-into-the-theatre/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) [Explore all 47 Peter Sellers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) ## More Had quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [We got orders to strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. We had a task force with the Enterprise. We had two or three cruisers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-ross/we-got-orders-to-strike-the-marshall-and-gilbert-islands-we-had-a/) [Barney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-ross/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) Browse all 11,989 Had quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Sellers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it-surgically-removed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Had" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it-surgically-removed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/peter-sellers-14147_had_there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it_627343.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/peter-sellers-14147_had_there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it_627343.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/peter-sellers-14147_had_there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it_627343.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed.” — Peter Sellers", "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": "Peter Sellers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There used to be a real...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it-surgically-removed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/there-used-to-be-a-real-me-but-i-had-it-surgically-removed/#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 } } ] } ```