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I'm well past the age where I'm acceptable. You get to a certain age and you are forbidden access. You're not going to get the kind of coverage that you would like in music magazines, you're not going to get played on radio and you're not going to get played on television. I have to survive on word of mouth.
David Bowie
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Interpretation

What this quote means

As one ages, societal acceptance in certain industries can diminish, pushing individuals to find alternative paths to success.

David Bowie's quote reflects the harsh reality that as artists grow older, they often face exclusion from mainstream media and celebration in their fields, such as music. He emphasizes how this phase of life necessitates resilience and adaptation, relying on word-of-mouth rather than traditional channels for success and validation.

Themes

AgeAcceptanceMusicMediaResilienceWord Of Mouth

In practice

Example use cases

A speaker at a panel discussion on age and creativity can use this quote to illustrate challenges faced by aging artists.

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