Celebrity Quotes About Personal Identity
Since the rise of radio and film in the early 20th century, Americans have looked to the stars for inspiration on a variety of matters, including self-identity. From the eloquent to the hilarious, celebrities at all levels of their lives and careers have shared personal revelations and insights for the benefit of fans. Whether looking for advice or consolation, find guidance and comfort in the well-expressed quotes of articulate celebrities.
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Coming of Age
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In an interview with Twist magazine, "High School Musical: star Zac Efron discussed how being an outcast made him who he is, saying, "I got made fun of constantly! That's what built my character. That's what makes you who you are. When you get made fun of -- when people point out your weaknesses -- that's just another opportunity for you to rise above."
In Allure magazine, actress Amy Adams talked about things she might have done differently in her youth, reflecting, "I was homely. Painfully small, short, with too much blue eye shadow because I thought, it matches my eyes, so why not -- trying desperately to fit in. When I look at my 20s, or when I look at any period in my life, I think about how much time I've wasted trying to find the right man. It's like, if I could go back and do it again I would have taken guitar lessons or something."
Mid-Life
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When asked by Oprah Winfrey about turning 50, singer and actress Bette Midler talked about coming to that realization that "a person's life is a journey, a road. Sometimes you go off the road and sometimes you stay on all the way through. But you are the only one on that road. It's your road."
While discussing what is like to start to reflect on one's past, boxer Muhammad Ali said, "The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." In the book Good Night Sweet Prince: The Life and Times of John Barrymore, the actor showed a similar philosophy, saying, "a man is not old until his regrets take the place of dreams."
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Golden Years
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Faced with death, many folks discover new strengths and depths to their identity. In an interview with Linda M. Potter, Hollywood icon Shirley MacLaine talked about her fearlessness, proclaiming, "Oh, I definitely have no fear of dying ... you know you've been around a few times you know there's no such thing."
In his 1979 film, "Just You and Me Kid," comedian George Burns joked about how perceptions of a person change as they age, saying, "When I was young I was called a rugged individualist. When I was in my fifties I was considered eccentric. Here I am doing and saying the same things I did then and I'm labeled senile."
Bette Davis warned bluntly that, "Old age is no place for sissies."
Men and Women
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Although the divisions are not black and white, ideas about identity often diverge between men and women. The poet and author Maya Angelou revealed her ideas about what it means for a woman to live her best life when she said, "A woman who is convinced that she deserves to accept only the best challenges herself to give the best. Then she is living phenomenally."
Inspired by his Italian heritage, actor Mark Ruffalo discussed in The Scotsman newspaper his ideas about Italian men having a particular mix of masculine and sensitive qualities stating, "Italian men tend to be very macho, but also very sentimental. I just think the whole idea of masculinity today is very funny. I think that trying to find who we are as guys, in this world today, is a difficult thing to do. But I guess I'm more like that personally. I think that's a good way to be as a man. It's a way you can survive in this world without totally giving up what's great about being a man."
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