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About this quote

What does it mean?
Harrison argues the Beatles were scapegoated for societal madness and chose to define himself outside that past.
In plain terms
We were blamed for chaos, so I choose not to live in the past.
What can you take from it?
Define yourself by your current actions, not by how others used you.

Where it applies

  • public scrutiny
  • reputation management
  • personal reinvention

Putting it to work

  • refuse past labels
  • focus on present identity

Questions to consider

  • How do you define yourself against public image?
  • What past label do you wish to shed?

Another view

It ignores how past actions shape current perceptions.

More from George Harrison

  1. The world used The Beatles as an excuse to go mad.

    Permalink to quote #31
  2. I wanted to be successful, not famous.

    Permalink to quote #33
  3. The world used us as an excuse to go mad.

    Permalink to quote #30

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