Howard Hodgkin Quotes

I always tried so hard to fit in, and then I figured out that I didn't want to fit.

I never had time to dream about being anyone else.

I remember how being young and black and gay and lonely felt. A lot of it was fine, feeling I had the truth and the light and the key, but a lot of it was purely hell.

People have to learn who they are - you can't have somebody else telling you who you are.

My identity was a big issue when I was a teenager, and I had a lot of questions, like: 'Who am I?' 'Who do I belong to?' But when I was still quite young, I decided that belonging is a tough process in life, and I'd better say I belonged to myself and the world rather than belonging to one nationality or another.

I don't feel as if I belong to an age group.

I was motivated to be different in part because I was different.

When we are honest - that's my saying - if we are honest then we will reveal ourselves. But we do not have to make an effort to be individualistic, different from others.

'Different' is such a good word. For me, ever since I was little, I always felt that something was off. And I just didn't have the resources to - I just didn't know what it was.

I'm really not sure what people think or expect me to be, but I am surprised when people say, 'You're not supposed to be like that... ' I'm not exactly sure what 'that' is, so I choose to take it as a compliment.

The essential problems remain the same... The kids I write about are asking for the same things I wanted. They want two contradictory things. They want to be the same as everyone else, and they want to be different from everyone else. They want acceptance for both.

Because of my unique experience as my mom's child, the beginning of my journey was more about me trying to figure out who I was on my own. My mom is one of the greatest moms and so supportive of all my siblings and of all of us being who we are, and not who she wanted us to be.

Growing up, I just wanted to be like everyone else. I didn't value or understand the beauty in being different at the time in my life.

Yeah, it's nice to look up to people, but the more you try to be somebody else, the less you are of yourself.

I've never, ever labeled myself.

In school, I really felt like I didn't fit a type. I think everybody had a hard time putting me in a category. They all sort of realized, 'Hmm, you don't really look like a soprano. You're not really a character belter.'

I am who I am. I was never 'in,' as they say. Never.

Hima is Hima only. I haven't changed.

I never quite became the monster I wanted to be. I feel mostly monstrous as I more become myself. Because the more you become yourself, the more it disturbs other people.

I am Thomas Muller, and I want to be like me.

I don't consider myself a flag bearer in the parade, but I have never felt stronger about who I am.

I think the most radical thing you can do is be yourself.

I'm not trying to be anyone else.

Well, I've always felt connected to the outsider.

It wasn't much fun being Charlotte Go-Go. I like being Charlotte Caffey better.