My immediate family was always very supportive. It was my own fear of the rest of the world not accepting me, the rest of our society not accepting my wish to be an actor.
Lupita Nyong'ORead
I learned at Yale, one of the biggest lessons was to learn how special I am and therefore how totally unspecial I am. I was special among everyone else who was special. The fact that we're all so individual and that's what makes us special.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the balance between individuality and our shared humanity.
Lupita Nyong'o reflects on her experience at Yale, revealing a profound lesson about self-worth and the nature of individuality. She highlights that while each person is unique and special, everyone also shares the commonality of being just one among many, creating a rich tapestry of individuality that ultimately connects us all. This understanding fosters humility and recognition of the value in both our uniqueness and our shared human experience.
Themes
IndividualitySelf-WorthHumanitySpecialHumility
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about self-acceptance and diversity.
More from Lupita Nyong'O
All quotes →[My mother] always said I was beautiful and I finally believed her at some point.
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What is fundamentally beautiful is compassion: for yourself and for those around you.
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That you will feel the validation of your external beauty but also get to the deeper business of being beautiful inside. There is no shade in that beauty.
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As human beings, we aren't as individual as we'd like to believe we are. And I think that's what makes acting possible. Despite the fact that I have not experienced something, I have it in my human capacity to imagine it and to put myself in someone else's shoes, and to take someone else's circumstances personally.
Lupita Nyong'ORead
I've loved the opportunity to learn about the fashion world and appreciate it as an art form, and I look forward to my continued education, but I never want it to take over my acting.
Lupita Nyong'ORead
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