--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Speaking as one who has abused privilege…" description: "\"Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time, I tell you, it's great to be alive.\" — Warren Zevon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/warren-zevon-7349_alive_speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege_464040.png" --- # Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time, I… ![“Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time, I tell you, it's great to be alive.” quote by Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/warren-zevon-7349_alive_speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege_464040.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/warren-zevon-7349_alive_speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege_464040.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/warren-zevon-7349_alive_speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege_464040.png) > “Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time, I tell you, it's great to be alive.” [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging past privilege abuse, he finds joy in simply being alive. **In simple terms:** Embrace life despite past flaws. Key Takeaway Find gratitude in existence. Themes self‑reflection gratitude existential Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily journaling - therapy - creative pursuits - social connections Key Concepts personal growth mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What does “great to be alive” mean to you? - How can you reconcile past mistakes with present joy? A Different Perspective Some may view it as trivializing serious issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) ## Related quotes > [“It feels great to be alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-feels-great-to-be-alive/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Anonymity is an abused privilege, abused most by people who mistake vitriol for wisdom and cynicism for wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-wallace/anonymity-is-an-abused-privilege-abused-most-by-people-who-mistake/) [Danny Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-wallace/) > [It's great to be alive, but it's greater to be living, Prepare to die for something you can't live without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/it-s-great-to-be-alive-but-it-s-greater-to-be-living-prepare-to-die/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [“It's great to be alive, isn't it? Especially when you consider the alternative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ross/it-s-great-to-be-alive-isn-t-it-especially-when-you-consider-the/) [Jonathan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ross/) > [It is easier to seize wealth than to produce it, and as long as the State makes the seizure of wealth a matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-seize-wealth-than-to-produce-it-and-as-long-as-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wring my hands because I know that as a dude, my privilege, my long-term deficiencies work against me in writing women, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-wring-my-hands-because-i-know-that-as-a-dude-my-privilege-my-long/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [For those people who fail to see the injustices that are occurring, in particular with the Muslim community, I think it's because you've sat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibtihaj-muhammad/for-those-people-who-fail-to-see-the-injustices-that-are-occurring-in/) [Ibtihaj Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibtihaj-muhammad/) > [Being the first deaf person to play a regular character is a huge privilege and was long overdue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/being-the-first-deaf-person-to-play-a-regular-character-is-a-huge/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [Life isn't long enough to do all you could accomplish. And what a privilege even to be alive. In spite of all the pollutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-tudor/life-isn-t-long-enough-to-do-all-you-could-accomplish-and-what-a/) [Tasha Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-tudor/) > [“Equality of condition and equality of opportunity must provide the foundation of an interdependent nation with building blocks found in dignity and respect given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-banks-lewis/equality-of-condition-and-equality-of-opportunity-must-provide-the/) Julie Banks Lewis > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-privilege-of-a-lifetime-is-being-who-you-are/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [What a great privilege it is to be here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-l-oscarson/what-a-great-privilege-it-is-to-be-here/) [Bonnie L. Oscarson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-l-oscarson/) > [Black Privilege is a concrete motive that black people benefit from, such as racism but racism on whites. Black people don't know it but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/black-privilege-is-a-concrete-motive-that-black-people-benefit-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Warren Zevon > [At least I've had one foot in a very normal kind of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/at-least-i-ve-had-one-foot-in-a-very-normal-kind-of-life/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I wish I sang better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-wish-i-sang-better/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I don't like piano solos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-like-piano-solos/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [“Cachet — isn’t that like panache, but sitting down?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/cachet-isn-t-that-like-panache-but-sitting-down/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I saw a Werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-saw-a-werewolf-with-a-chinese-menu-in-his-hand/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I'm not a big jazz fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-m-not-a-big-jazz-fan/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I'd like to go back to Paris someday and visit the Lourve museum, get a good running start, and hurl myself at the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-d-like-to-go-back-to-paris-someday-and-visit-the-lourve-museum-get/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [But I can't say that I didn't like John Hammond's performances often better than the originals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/but-i-can-t-say-that-i-didn-t-like-john-hammond-s-performances-often/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I don't learn so good, no matter how good the teacher is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-learn-so-good-no-matter-how-good-the-teacher-is/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [Well, first of all, let me say that I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/well-first-of-all-let-me-say-that-i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I don't get depressed and I don't get bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-get-depressed-and-i-don-t-get-bored/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [ “We love to buy books because we believe we're buying the time to read them. \[ Inside Out (VH1)\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/we-love-to-buy-books-because-we-believe-we-re-buying-the-time-to-read/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [My first album is like a terrible John Hammond album, with drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/my-first-album-is-like-a-terrible-john-hammond-album-with-drums/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [Little old lady got mutilated late last night, werewolves of London, again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/little-old-lady-got-mutilated-late-last-night-werewolves-of-london/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [don't let us get sick, don't let us get old, don't let us get stupid, alright? just make us be brave, and make us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/don-t-let-us-get-sick-don-t-let-us-get-old-don-t-let-us-get-stupid/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) [Explore all 92 Warren Zevon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) ## More Alive quotes > [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/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time, I tell you, it's great to be alive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Zevon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege-a-long-time-i-tell-you-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege-a-long-time-i-tell-you-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/warren-zevon-7349_alive_speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege_464040.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/warren-zevon-7349_alive_speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege_464040.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/warren-zevon-7349_alive_speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege_464040.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time, I tell you, it's great to be alive.” — Warren Zevon", "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": "Warren Zevon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Speaking as one who has abused...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege-a-long-time-i-tell-you-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege-a-long-time-i-tell-you-it-s/#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 } } ] } ```