I would get songs sung to me, like 'Old Man River', or kids would call me Mississippi and things like that. At the time, I wished I had a name that blended in more with my surroundings. Now, though, I've really learned to love it. From fifteen, I really liked it. It felt appropriate. Before that, I don't think it quite fitted me. I had to grow into it .
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Phoenix reflects on growing into his unique name and eventually accepting it.
- In plain terms
- I used to wish for a normal name but learned to love mine.
- What can you take from it?
- Identity and names can be embraced over time.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does belonging matter most?
- How do you define a good name?
Another view
Not everyone finds acceptance with their name or identity markers.
More from River Phoenix
I project a definite innocence. A lot of that is just the way I grew up.
Permalink to quote #4 Sometimes I hear stuff like 'Hey man, wheres your skateboard, dude?' from people who think I'm Christian Slater.
Permalink to quote #6 I wish sometimes I wasn't as conscientious as I am.
Permalink to quote #3
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