You've got to have something to eat and a little love in your life before you can hold still for any damn body's sermon on how to behave.
Billie HolidayRead
I never hurt nobody but myself and that's nobody's business but my own.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the idea that personal struggles and pain are private matters that do not concern others.
Billie Holiday's quote highlights the importance of privacy regarding one's own suffering. It suggests that while individuals may face their own hardships, they are inherently personal and may not need to be shared or validated by others. The sentiment reflects a form of autonomy over oneβs own emotional experiences, indicating a boundary between personal pain and public scrutiny.
Themes
PainPrivacyStruggleAutonomySelf
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a discussion about mental health to emphasize the importance of privacy.
More from Billie Holiday
All quotes βOne day a whole damn song fell into place in my head.
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I'm always making a comeback but nobody ever tells me where I've been.
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A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.
Billie HolidayRead
Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain.
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I joined Count Basie's band to make a little money and to see the world. For two years I didn't see anything but the inside of a Blue Goose bus, and I never got to send home a quarter.
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