---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you cut me open I bleed East London."
description: "\"If you cut me open I bleed East London.\" — Zawe Ashton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/zawe-ashton-6505_bleed_if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london-1_1902739.jpg"
---

#  If you cut me open I bleed East London.

![“If you cut me open I bleed East London.” quote by Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/zawe-ashton-6505_bleed_if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london-1_1902739.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/zawe-ashton-6505_bleed_if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london-1_1902739.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/zawe-ashton-6505_bleed_if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london-1_1902739.jpg)

> “If you cut me open I bleed East London.”

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker feels deeply connected to East London, as if it runs through their veins.

**In simple terms:** Strong bond with hometown.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge local roots.

Themes

identity place loyalty

Mood

nostalgic proud

Type

cultural personal

When to use this quote

- community involvement
- storytelling
- local activism

Key Concepts

regional pride cultural identity

Questions to Reflect On

- What does East London mean to you?
- How does place shape your identity?

A Different Perspective

May overlook broader perspectives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[East london](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east-london/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/)

## Related quotes

> [“How he'd gotten so damn lucky, he had no idea, but if it took slicing open his wound to keep Tate, then he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/how-he-d-gotten-so-damn-lucky-he-had-no-idea-but-if-it-took-slicing/)

[Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/)

> [“True artists know how to cut their subjects open and bleed them onto the canvas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-sedoti/true-artists-know-how-to-cut-their-subjects-open-and-bleed-them-onto/)

[Chelsea Sedoti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-sedoti/)

> [“I need to rip my wounds open and bleed fresh for him. “It’s true,” I tell him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-need-to-rip-my-wounds-open-and-bleed-fresh-for-him-it-s-true-i-tell/)

[Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/)

> [“Let…it…go,” he whispers, his voice a fierce, harsh sound in my hair. “No. No!” The last word is screamed. “You have to. You can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasinda-wilder/let-it-go-he-whispers-his-voice-a-fierce-harsh-sound-in-my-hair-no-no/)

[Jasinda Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasinda-wilder/)

> [People never think of entertainers as being human. When you walk out on stage, the audience think, 'Nothing can go wrong with them.' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-carpenter/people-never-think-of-entertainers-as-being-human-when-you-walk-out/)

[Karen Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-carpenter/)

> [“They want us to be afraid. They want us to be afraid of leaving our homes. They want us to barricade our doors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/they-want-us-to-be-afraid-they-want-us-to-be-afraid-of-leaving-our/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [“She could cut you open with one note and sew you up with another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-could-cut-you-open-with-one-note-and-sew-you-up-with-another/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“That was her nature. Fail and quit. If you cut her open, it was fail and quit right down to her bones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grady-hendrix/that-was-her-nature-fail-and-quit-if-you-cut-her-open-it-was-fail-and/)

[Grady Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grady-hendrix/)

> [Hey,If I cut open my chest and staple my heart,Do you think it will keep all the broken pieces together?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/hey-if-i-cut-open-my-chest-and-staple-my-heart-do-you-think-it-will/)

[Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/)

> [The earth is suffocating... Swear to make them cut me open, so that I won't be buried alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/the-earth-is-suffocating-swear-to-make-them-cut-me-open-so-that-i-won/)

[Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/)

> [“When they cut me open, I want them to say, “Damn! This woman ate well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haylyn-quill/when-they-cut-me-open-i-want-them-to-say-damn-this-woman-ate-well/)

Haylyn Quill

> [“Certain things in life will cut you open like a knife. When that happens—at that exposing moment—the world gets a glimpse of what’s truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/certain-things-in-life-will-cut-you-open-like-a-knife-when-that/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [As you walk, you cut open and create that river bed into which the stream of your descendants shall enter and flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/as-you-walk-you-cut-open-and-create-that-river-bed-into-which-the/)

[Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/)

> [“Let this time in your life cut you open and drain all of the things that are holding you back. I’m going to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/let-this-time-in-your-life-cut-you-open-and-drain-all-of-the-things/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [If we cut open the bud of a beautiful rose in order to see how it is 'packed' and what it is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gardner/if-we-cut-open-the-bud-of-a-beautiful-rose-in-order-to-see-how-it-is/)

[Ian Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gardner/)

## More by Zawe Ashton

> [What sometimes annoys me about the arts is increasingly that we have to put real people on screen or stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/what-sometimes-annoys-me-about-the-arts-is-increasingly-that-we-have/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [No-one tells you about being in episodic television and it ending. No-one tells you how painful it is. How bizarre it is when you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/no-one-tells-you-about-being-in-episodic-television-and-it-ending-no/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [One of the first plays I ever did was at the Royal Court Theatre in London; it was the first play I got after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/one-of-the-first-plays-i-ever-did-was-at-the-royal-court-theatre-in/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [Relief is not a word that ever enters my mind, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/relief-is-not-a-word-that-ever-enters-my-mind-about-anything/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I'm not really sure what defines 'success in the real world' to be honest! It's so objective once you graduate, some people work, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-m-not-really-sure-what-defines-success-in-the-real-world-to-be/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [Some people shun the idea of role models but I think it's one of the most important things people have in life - role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/some-people-shun-the-idea-of-role-models-but-i-think-it-s-one-of-the/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I love the visual medium of film and TV. I love the science of it, working with the sound and the lighting and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-love-the-visual-medium-of-film-and-tv-i-love-the-science-of-it/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I've had doors slammed in my face, I've been shouted at in my face in meetings when I've stood up for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-ve-had-doors-slammed-in-my-face-i-ve-been-shouted-at-in-my-face-in/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I prefer to avoid the phrase 'strong women' when talking about female characters and the lack thereof or the need therefore, because it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-prefer-to-avoid-the-phrase-strong-women-when-talking-about-female/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I don't want to be 'de-ethnicised.' I hate it when people say, 'Oh I don't even think of you as a woman,' or, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-don-t-want-to-be-de-ethnicised-i-hate-it-when-people-say-oh-i-don-t/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [If I was someone who wanted to do just love-interest roles then I'd be in a difficult position. But thankfully I'm someone who likes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/if-i-was-someone-who-wanted-to-do-just-love-interest-roles-then-i-d/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I've never lived in north or west London, so I'd like to come out of my comfort zone for a bit. But Stoke Newington…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-ve-never-lived-in-north-or-west-london-so-i-d-like-to-come-out-of/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I know I'm different and I don't fit in to any kind of generic mould.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-know-i-m-different-and-i-don-t-fit-in-to-any-kind-of-generic-mould/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [The widespread shame of motherhood is criminal, and it needs to stop. The world can never improve if you disrespect the people that bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/the-widespread-shame-of-motherhood-is-criminal-and-it-needs-to-stop/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

> [I'm someone who likes to explore the complexities in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-m-someone-who-likes-to-explore-the-complexities-in-people/)

[Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

[Explore all 99 Zawe Ashton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/)

## More Bleed quotes

> [I just can’t, Nick, okay? Now, please give me a second to lie here in silence and bleed.” – Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-just-can-t-nick-okay-now-please-give-me-a-second-to-lie-here-in/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [She cuts herself, but not too deep. It's not enough to kill her, just enough to make her bleed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie/she-cuts-herself-but-not-too-deep-it-s-not-enough-to-kill-her-just/)

[Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie/)

> [But I am only human and I bleed when I fall down I am only human and I crash and I break down u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/human/but-i-am-only-human-and-i-bleed-when-i-fall-down-i-am-only-human-and/)

Human

> [We all need someone we can bleed on, and if you want it, you can bleed on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-rolling-stones/we-all-need-someone-we-can-bleed-on-and-if-you-want-it-you-can-bleed/)

[The Rolling Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-rolling-stones/)

> [“I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-fall-upon-the-thorns-of-life-i-bleed/)

[Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/)

> [“This is not one of your fictions where people bleed ink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-paul-winter/this-is-not-one-of-your-fictions-where-people-bleed-ink/)

Terence Paul Winter

> [“No, I am just writing this because, sometimes, you’re still all I have to write about. Sometimes you’re the only thing that my typewriter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moriah-pearson/no-i-am-just-writing-this-because-sometimes-you-re-still-all-i-have/)

Moriah Pearson

> [Gouge out, your eyes, pull your, heart to the floor, with my heart my skin my kiss, stand back drop to your knees, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gouge-out-your-eyes-pull-your-heart-to-the-floor-with-my-heart-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Make your enemies bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-f-hashimi/make-your-enemies-bleed/)

Omar F. Hashimi

> [“The second hour, you are injured but you keep going. The third hour, you realize you’ve had your fill of blood. You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-second-hour-you-are-injured-but-you-keep-going-the-third-hour-you/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“Go away and bleed to death,’ said his onetime saviour sharply. ‘On behalf of the female sex I feel I may cheer every lesion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-dunnett/go-away-and-bleed-to-death-said-his-onetime-saviour-sharply-on-behalf/)

[Dorothy Dunnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-dunnett/)

> [We've had public companies in the past in that business and they bleed. We've got a lot more blood than they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-ve-had-public-companies-in-the-past-in-that-business-and-they/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [“I prick him, you bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-prick-him-you-bleed/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“You have two seconds to tell me what the fuck you did to her, or I start carving you up into tiny pieces. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/you-have-two-seconds-to-tell-me-what-the-fuck-you-did-to-her-or-i/)

[Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/)

> [This is the death of me I feel it constantly. Just like an enemy that wants to see me bleed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/escape-the-fate/this-is-the-death-of-me-i-feel-it-constantly-just-like-an-enemy-that/)

[Escape The Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/escape-the-fate/)

Browse all 280 Bleed quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you cut me open I bleed East London.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Zawe Ashton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bleed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/zawe-ashton-6505_bleed_if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london-1_1902739.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/zawe-ashton-6505_bleed_if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london-1_1902739.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/zawe-ashton-6505_bleed_if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london-1_1902739.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you cut me open I bleed East London.” — Zawe Ashton",
                "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": "Zawe Ashton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you cut me open I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/if-you-cut-me-open-i-bleed-east-london/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
