---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the old days, 'controversial' in a…"
description: "\"In the old days, 'controversial' in a relationship meant same-sex or mixed races.\" — Sam Taylor-Johnson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/sam-taylor-johnson-9083_days_in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relat_1658562.jpg"
---

#  In the old days, 'controversial' in a relationship meant…

![“In the old days, 'controversial' in a relationship meant same-sex or mixed races.” quote by Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/sam-taylor-johnson-9083_days_in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relat_1658562.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/sam-taylor-johnson-9083_days_in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relat_1658562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/sam-taylor-johnson-9083_days_in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relat_1658562.jpg)

> “In the old days, 'controversial' in a relationship meant same-sex or mixed races.”

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Historically, “controversial” relationships were limited to race or gender, showing how societal norms evolve.

**In simple terms:** Controversial once meant race or gender.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how norms shift over time.

Themes

history controversy relationships

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

analytical historical

When to use this quote

- marriage equality

Key Concepts

social change cultural norms

Questions to Reflect On

- What relationships are considered controversial today?
- How do you challenge outdated norms?

A Different Perspective

Modern controversies now include politics and religion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Controversial Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial-relationship-733768/) [Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days/) [Days Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-controversial-733771/) [Mixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mixed/) [Mixed Races](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mixed-races-733770/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Old days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-days/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Sex Mixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-mixed-733769/)

## Related quotes

> [“Sex must be mixed with tears, laughter, words, promises, scenes, jealousy, envy, all the spices of fear, foreign travel, new faces, novels, stories, dreams,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/sex-must-be-mixed-with-tears-laughter-words-promises-scenes-jealousy/)

[Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Nordics deteriorate when mixed with other races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/nordics-deteriorate-when-mixed-with-other-races/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [I enjoy mixed audiences, not one particular group. Short, tall, scientists, Jews, gentiles, whatever, as long as they breathe and like to laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-enjoy-mixed-audiences-not-one-particular-group-short-tall/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [“If I began to draw myself away from you we’d still be like two mixed colors of paint impossible to separate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanober-khan/if-i-began-to-draw-myself-away-from-you-we-d-still-be-like-two-mixed/)

[Sanober Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanober-khan/)

> [Rock and roll and swing never quite mixed. Rock and roll came in and just blew everything out of the water. Big bands were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/rock-and-roll-and-swing-never-quite-mixed-rock-and-roll-came-in-and/)

[Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/)

> [It's important for me to think I'm mixed-race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/it-s-important-for-me-to-think-i-m-mixed-race/)

[Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/)

> [Im not emo I'm just sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/im-not-emo-i-m-just-sad/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [I have a sound. It's called 'funk mixed with stank.' That's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-robinson/i-have-a-sound-it-s-called-funk-mixed-with-stank-that-s-what-i-do/)

[Craig Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-robinson/)

> [The proudest thing I have ever done was to win the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at Wimbledon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/the-proudest-thing-i-have-ever-done-was-to-win-the-singles-doubles/)

[Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/)

> [I have OCD mixed with ADD, you try living with that. Its complicated,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/i-have-ocd-mixed-with-add-you-try-living-with-that-its-complicated/)

[Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/)

> [I'm retired from mixed martial arts but I'm not retired from making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uriah-hall/i-m-retired-from-mixed-martial-arts-but-i-m-not-retired-from-making/)

[Uriah Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uriah-hall/)

> [Every president inherits a mixed bag when he comes to office, and Obama's was hardly the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/every-president-inherits-a-mixed-bag-when-he-comes-to-office-and/)

[Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/)

> [I always go for a cheeseburger. I do ketchup, mustard, and mayo all mixed together. Pickles have to be on it, and shredded lettuce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/i-always-go-for-a-cheeseburger-i-do-ketchup-mustard-and-mayo-all/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/)

[Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

## More by Sam Taylor-Johnson

> [I keep seeing in the papers that I am good friends with Samantha Cameron. I've never met her in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-keep-seeing-in-the-papers-that-i-am-good-friends-with-samantha/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [I am not famous at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-am-not-famous-at-all/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [I only photograph myself at poignant moments in my life as a check of where I am and how large my thighs are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-only-photograph-myself-at-poignant-moments-in-my-life-as-a-check-of/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [When Scorsese or Coppola cast celebrities in their work, it goes without question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/when-scorsese-or-coppola-cast-celebrities-in-their-work-it-goes/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [I'm interested in the acting and staging of specific emotions, and so I work with actors. It's a small proportion of what I do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-m-interested-in-the-acting-and-staging-of-specific-emotions-and-so/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [When you have an author and an auteur, it's a difficult and challenging relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/when-you-have-an-author-and-an-auteur-it-s-a-difficult-and/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [I'm not a shouter, and I'm not a bully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-m-not-a-shouter-and-i-m-not-a-bully/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [I want to protect my vision, and that's the hardest thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-want-to-protect-my-vision-and-that-s-the-hardest-thing/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [It's difficult for me to work with women, because I find that direct references are made back to me too fast. Working with men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/it-s-difficult-for-me-to-work-with-women-because-i-find-that-direct/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [To be feminist doesn't mean you can't be submissive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/to-be-feminist-doesn-t-mean-you-can-t-be-submissive/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [My parents were Beatle fans, but my mom was especially a Lennon fan, so I was exposed to him more. I remember her playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/my-parents-were-beatle-fans-but-my-mom-was-especially-a-lennon-fan-so/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [I am completely, utterly obsessed with clothes. To an embarrassing extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-am-completely-utterly-obsessed-with-clothes-to-an-embarrassing/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [It would be nice to be a bit autonomous again, to enjoy something a bit quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/it-would-be-nice-to-be-a-bit-autonomous-again-to-enjoy-something-a/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [I don't eat any dairy products at all, usually - it's a self-imposed ban. I've done it for a year now, since I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-don-t-eat-any-dairy-products-at-all-usually-it-s-a-self-imposed-ban/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

> [The way I was grew up gave me a slight fearlessness and a sense of independence. There are things about it that have definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/the-way-i-was-grew-up-gave-me-a-slight-fearlessness-and-a-sense-of/)

[Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

[Explore all 75 Sam Taylor-Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/)

## More Controversial quotes

> [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/)

[Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/)

> [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/)

[Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/)

> [The chief beneficiary of life insurance policies for young, single people is the life insurance agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/the-chief-beneficiary-of-life-insurance-policies-for-young-single/)

[Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/)

> [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/)

[John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/)

> [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/)

[Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/)

> [Those who misrepresent the normal experiences of life, who decry being controversial, who shun risk, are the enemies of the American way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wriston/those-who-misrepresent-the-normal-experiences-of-life-who-decry-being/)

[Henry Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wriston/)

> [“My personal analysis is that the media have made the AI-safety debate seem more controversial than it really is. After all, fear sells, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/my-personal-analysis-is-that-the-media-have-made-the-ai-safety-debate/)

[Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/)

> [I think if I'm controversial it's not because I set out to be. It's because I've never felt comfortable being part of someone else's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-think-if-i-m-controversial-it-s-not-because-i-set-out-to-be-it-s/)

[Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/)

> [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/)

[Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/)

> [I get called 'controversial' all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-get-called-controversial-all-the-time/)

[Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/)

> [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/)

[S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/)

> [I've been a very effective leader in the gay rights movement, though at times I've been controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-o-leary/i-ve-been-a-very-effective-leader-in-the-gay-rights-movement-though/)

[Jean O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-o-leary/)

> [“At the time, though, vaccination was controversial. Many were opposed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wright/at-the-time-though-vaccination-was-controversial-many-were-opposed/)

[Jennifer Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wright/)

[Browse all 486 Controversial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In the old days, 'controversial' in a relationship meant same-sex or mixed races.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sam Taylor-Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relationship-meant-same-sex-or/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Controversial"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relationship-meant-same-sex-or/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/sam-taylor-johnson-9083_days_in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relat_1658562.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/sam-taylor-johnson-9083_days_in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relat_1658562.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/sam-taylor-johnson-9083_days_in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relat_1658562.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In the old days, 'controversial' in a relationship meant same-sex or mixed races.” — Sam Taylor-Johnson",
                "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": "Sam Taylor-Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In the old days, 'controversial' in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relationship-meant-same-sex-or/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/in-the-old-days-controversial-in-a-relationship-meant-same-sex-or/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
