Is it normal to have my favorite quote ruined by a celebrity?

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8 Comments

Recently, I found out one of my favorite inspirational quotes was used by a Hollywood celebrity. I don't like Hollywood and I particularly dislike this celebrity. After finding out that she had my favorite quote tattooed on her wrist, it makes me feel empty.

Now, whenever I think of that quote, instead of helping me cope with difficult times, it reminds of Hollywood, in particular this one celebrity, with all of that vanity, shallowness, and superficiality and it just... ruins the special-ness of that quote for me. It makes it feel meaningless. Like everyone's getting it tattooed and it's become "trendy" and popular rather than personal and meaningful.

It wasn't a very well-known quote (by Aldous Huxley) before said celebrity got it tattooed.

I know I'm probably just being petty, but that quote really used to help me through a lot of difficult times, it still does, but I hate that it now reminds me of that celebrity and how my mind seems to have formed an association between that quote and a negative thought / feeling, instead of continuing to inspire me.

Is this normal and how do I stop making that mental association and stop letting it bother me / stop it from constantly reminding me about that celebrity?

Thank you in advance. I'm just hoping for advice and maybe a little bit of perspective.

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78% Normal
Based on 9 votes (7 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • Ellenna
    7 years ago

    Move on, why are you letting yourself be affected by what some celebrity does?

    What was the quote, by the way? Presumably not about being your own person

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  • OhIsee
    7 years ago

    Loss is not nice but it lets the new in.

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  • imsoJealousofIman
    7 years ago

    You don't need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!

    ALL time fave quote. Found out who said it, now it makes me angry lol. I get like this. You are normal :)

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  • mysistersshadow
    7 years ago

    Find a new one? Don't pay attention to celebritys? Don't let other ppl dictate how you feel? Tell everyone you loved it first? Get over it? So many options.

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  • factcheck
    7 years ago

    I get it. You've made the mental association between that quote and how you feel about the celebrity, and that's not an easy thing to change. It's a lot easier said than done to just think about something else when you think about that quote. I understand that.

    So, here's my perspective. Something here has to change, right? The quote isn't going to change, and you may not be able to change the association between the quote and your feelings about Hollywood and this celebrity...but maybe you can change how you feel about the celebrity.

    My suggestion is to find out why the celebrity got that tattoo. Find out what it means to them. It may help them cope with difficult times, just like it does for you, or maybe it inspires them for a different reason, but one you can relate to nonetheless. And if the tattoo has a special meaning for them, does that really make it meaningless? It's not like they just got it because it looks cool, or because everybody's doing it. If you can make a mental association between that celebrity and what the tattoo means to them instead of that celebrity and your dislike of Hollywood, maybe you won't dislike them as much, or at least maybe it won't bother you that they have the tattoo if you can understand and accept why they did it.

    You used the example of somebody I love dying, and a poem reminding me of them. If that happened, and I found out somebody I disliked also liked the poem...if I found out it also reminded them of somebody they loved who died, I might not hate them any less, but I think I'd be glad that the poem could help other people.

    That's my two cents, anyway. I have no idea if it'll help, but I hope you find some way to remedy the situation. Good luck!

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  • dumb_guy
    7 years ago

    Listen dude. I'm a dumb guy and I can quote Albert Einstein. What the fuck? Does that diminish the profound clarity and enlightenment of his genius? Fucking think about it.

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  • Tealights
    7 years ago

    You're letting this person have too much control over your emotions, which means she wins without even knowing you. Think of it this way: If you have a favorite shirt that was given to you by someone close to you, would you burn/trash the shirt if worn by a celebrity you hate? Hopefully, you wouldnt; so why would you do this with a quote you like?

    At least people, fans or just randoms, will see the tattoo and become curious about where it came from and learn about Aldous Huxley. Thanks to your post, I looked him up and discovered a quote I like, "I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself." Though I never wanted to change to world, but instead help the people around me, I learned through much wasted time and multiple headaches, that the only person capable of changing is that person when they're ready; which can be now, later, or never. Plus, l realized he wrote Brave New World, a novel my family member adores and been asking me to read for quite some time.

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  • LockednJaded
    7 years ago

    I'm not "letting myself be affected by by what a celebrity does", rather, I'm disappointed that one of my favorite, most inspiring quotes has been ruined and cheapened by a celebrity.

    I was looking through Google images trying to find the quote when I saw a photo of that celebrity with the quote tattooed on their wrist. I wasn't actively searching for the celebrity in question.

    It just feels a little like one of the things you love most, that is very special and dear to you, that inspires you and helps you cope, has been bastardised by celebrities, celebrity culture or by someone you hate or don't particularly like.

    Like if someone you love died, let's say your mother passed away, and she left you with a certain poem, saying, quote or even a certain necklace, and you later find out that someone you hate has that same necklace or repeats that same inspirational quote or poem, in in a way, it will end up ruining it for you and every time you try and remember it fondly because it used to remind you of your mother or the person you loved, it now reminds you of someone you hate.

    Haven't you ever had something you love tainted by something or someone you hate?

    I'm not sharing this so you could tell me to "just get over it". Obviously, if I could, I would. All I was after was maybe a bit of support or advice. Maybe a kind word to help cheer me up or offer me some insight into how I could perhaps see things in a different light to no longer be affected by negative thoughts and feelings associated with something that previously used to help me cope and make me feel good?

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