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I was a personality before I became a person - I am simple, complex, generous, selfish, unattractive, beautiful, lazy and driven.
Barbra Streisand
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects the complexity of human identity, acknowledging the dualities within oneself.

Barbra Streisand emphasizes that before developing her personal identity, she was perceived as an artist with a public persona. This quote captures the multifaceted nature of being human, highlighting that individuals can embody contrasting traits simultaneously. It suggests a deeper understanding of the self beyond superficial labels, recognizing that everyone has both strengths and weaknesses.

Themes

IdentityDualitySelfComplexityHuman Nature

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about embracing one's true self.

More from Barbra Streisand

I think when I was younger, I wanted to be a star, until I became a star, and then it's a lot of work. It's work to be a star. I don't enjoy the stardom part. I only enjoy the creative process.
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The audience is the best judge of anything. They cannot be lied to. Truth brings them closer. A moment that lags - they're gonna cough.
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A man who graduated high in his class at Yale Law School and made partnership in a top law firm would be celebrated. A man who invested wisely would be admired, but a woman who accomplishes this is treated with suspicion.
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He (son Jason) doesn't see me as a (gay) icon, he sees me as his mother who touches his hair too much. No, I love being an icon to anybody. Equal rights, you know?
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In the music business, we all do different things, but we sit there and admire other people who can write a song differently or sing differently. It's not so competitive.
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You know, for me, the realization that two people should have the right to form a sacred union regardless of their gender was strengthened when I saw a performance of the play The Normal Heart in 1985. After feeling the love those two men had for each other, I dare anybody not to want them to get married by the end.
Barbra StreisandRead

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Quote by Barbra Streisand | QuoteProject