Ian MacKaye Quotes

Some people have called me arrogant or believe that is my reputation, which is far from what I really am like.

Sometimes acting and politics make a very bad combination. I think that sometimes people take me less seriously in my work for the UN because I am an actor.

Even today I meet people who think of me automatically as a tough, insensitive, coarse guy named Stanley Kowalski. They can't help it, but, it is troubling.

Reputations are shaped not by facts but by prejudices.

People think that because of my nature and the tone of my voice that I'm stupid, and that's hard.

It’s not what you are that counts; it’s what people think you are.

I don't want people to think I'm a wrestler.

Whatever I do, if people see me in a certain light, then they will always judge me in that light. Their impressions and perceptions will never change.

I would say most people assume that I'm not very smart or educated or earnest, because I have this image that I'm sort of narcissistic, chasing attention, and wanting people to like me. It makes me laugh because I've done plenty of interviews and when you read the article from beginning to end you can see that I'm not your typical music video model.

The strange machinery by which a reputation precedes its source we all know is faulty. Yet how much faith we put in it!

I wanted people to see me, to change their minds about me.

I'm actually quite a nice person. It's to do with the way I look, an uncompromising sort of face, brusque delivery and voice, and I think the combination of all that. When I'm doing pantomime, children will scream the place down before I open my mouth. There's obviously something that really gets them.

Whenever I play something, everybody just thinks that's who I am.

I do come shackled with whatever people think I am.

You are what you're portrayed as.

A large part of my career is due to perception, what people think what I am or should be.

Some people assume I'm a spoilt trust fund kid who's never had to work for anything, while others think the best of me because of the good experience they had with my grandfather. It's difficult to digest the fact that they may never see me for who I am.

Fruitcakes have a bad rap.

My last name is good and bad. It's great from an opportunity standpoint. The bad news is that you're prejudged often.

I think sometimes people think cheerful is a synonym for dumb, so no one is ever cheerful.

I would like to break out of this "dark, brooding" image, cause I'm actually not like that at all. In Ireland, brooding is a term we use for hens. A brooding hen is supposed to lay eggs. Everytime somebody says "He's dark and brooding" I think: "He's about to lay an egg".

A lot of people tend to think I'm a dogmatic ideologue, which I'm not.

Most people seem to think I'm the kind of guy who shaves with a blowtorch. Actually I'm bookish and worrisome.

Innocence can be redefined and called stupidity. Honesty can be called gullibility. Candor becomes lack of common sense. Interest in your work can be called cowardice. Generosity can be called soft-headedness, and observe : the former is disturbing

People do seem to think that I'm going to be some wicked witch, and then they're always surprised to find out I'm just a little clumsy nerd.