--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first walk illegally at 20 years old…" description: "\"My first walk illegally at 20 years old was between the towers of Notre Dame.\" — Philippe Petit" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/philippe-petit-3697_between_my-first-walk-illegally-at-20-years-old_1811109.jpg" --- # My first walk illegally at 20 years old was between the… ![“My first walk illegally at 20 years old was between the towers of Notre Dame.” quote by Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/philippe-petit-3697_between_my-first-walk-illegally-at-20-years-old_1811109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/philippe-petit-3697_between_my-first-walk-illegally-at-20-years-old_1811109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/philippe-petit-3697_between_my-first-walk-illegally-at-20-years-old_1811109.jpg) > “My first walk illegally at 20 years old was between the towers of Notre Dame.” [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A daring act that challenged legal limits and showcased human daring in an iconic setting. **In simple terms:** Bold risk in a famous place. Key Takeaway Embrace daring within constraints. Themes risk creativity public space law iconic landmarks Mood thrilling defiant Type anecdotal inspirational When to use this quote - street performance - tourist attraction - media coverage Key Concepts performance art urban exploration legal boundaries Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to break rules for art? - How do public spaces shape daring acts? A Different Perspective Legal repercussions can outweigh artistic expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Notre dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notre-dame/) ## Related quotes > [Notre Dame and Sydney - that was nothing. Notre Dame doesn't have a police station; it is not 1,000 or so feet high. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/notre-dame-and-sydney-that-was-nothing-notre-dame-doesn-t-have-a/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I started putting a wire up in secret and performing without permission. Notre Dame, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the World Trade Center. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-started-putting-a-wire-up-in-secret-and-performing-without/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I left the University of Notre Dame, I honestly felt I would never coach again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/when-i-left-the-university-of-notre-dame-i-honestly-felt-i-would/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [Back in the 1500s, the culture that we had built in the West embraced multigenerational projects quite easily. Notre Dame. Massive cathedrals were not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamais-cascio/back-in-the-1500s-the-culture-that-we-had-built-in-the-west-embraced/) [Jamais Cascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamais-cascio/) > [The University of Notre Dame does not redshirt, and I endorse that policy completely. I am very much in favor of redshirting, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/the-university-of-notre-dame-does-not-redshirt-and-i-endorse-that/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [You don't go to Notre Dame to learn something, you go to Notre Dame to be somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/you-don-t-go-to-notre-dame-to-learn-something-you-go-to-notre-dame-to/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [I truly believe the things Notre Dame stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/i-truly-believe-the-things-notre-dame-stands-for/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [God has a plan for everybody's life, so there was obviously a reason why He wanted me to go to Notre Dame. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/i-feel-comfortable-singing-in-the-great-cathedrals-of-the-world/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I've followed Notre Dame football since 1946, when I listened on the radio and Johnny Lujack tackled Doc Blanchard in the open field to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/i-ve-followed-notre-dame-football-since-1946-when-i-listened-on-the/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [You have to be equal at both - great at football and great at dedicating yourself to the academics at Notre Dame. It's hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tuck/you-have-to-be-equal-at-both-great-at-football-and-great-at/) [Justin Tuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tuck/) > [Walking at random through the streets, we came by chance upon the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I shall long remember my first impression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/walking-at-random-through-the-streets-we-came-by-chance-upon-the/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [Something big, ... is about to happen at Notre Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grant/something-big-is-about-to-happen-at-notre-dame/) [John Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grant/) ## More by Philippe Petit > [If I look at the performance of another friend Sting, whenever I hear him take over a stage and share his art with millions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-look-at-the-performance-of-another-friend-sting-whenever-i-hear/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I am a wire-walker. I can walk any time, anywhere - I'm indestructible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-wire-walker-i-can-walk-any-time-anywhere-i-m-indestructible/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have been performing in the street for more than 50 years: magic for basically 60 years, and the high wire 45 years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-been-performing-in-the-street-for-more-than-50-years-magic-for/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I needed more knowledge in rigging and knotting. I started collecting books on knots and really learning more and more. 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Then jump. /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/you-must-not-fall-when-you-lose-your-balance-resist-for-a-long-time/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I was six years old, I fell in love with magic. For Christmas, I got a magic box and a very old book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-was-six-years-old-i-fell-in-love-with-magic-for-christmas-i/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I don't like to risk my life, so I prepare sometimes for months or sometimes for years. But sometimes after a walk, I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-don-t-like-to-risk-my-life-so-i-prepare-sometimes-for-months-or/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I perform outside, the major problem that could arise is strong wind.I spend months preparing for the types of wind that occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-perform-outside-the-major-problem-that-could-arise-is-strong/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [If I have to make a self-portrait, I would put poetry and rebellion on the list. To be able to walk on a wire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-have-to-make-a-self-portrait-i-would-put-poetry-and-rebellion-on/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Whenever other worlds invite us, whenever we are balancing on the boundaries of our limited human condition, that’s where life starts, that’s where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/whenever-other-worlds-invite-us-whenever-we-are-balancing-on-the/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have walked many times around the world and each time it's different from the last one. It feels a little bit like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-walked-many-times-around-the-world-and-each-time-it-s/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I am a thief of knowledge, and in a survival way, I had to solve all the problems around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-thief-of-knowledge-and-in-a-survival-way-i-had-to-solve-all/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Metaphorically speaking, of course, if I put a problem behind my pillow and fall asleep, very often because my brain went to sleep with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/metaphorically-speaking-of-course-if-i-put-a-problem-behind-my-pillow/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) [Explore all 124 Philippe Petit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## More Between quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. 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