‘I Don’t Follow the Rules’: 10 Madonna Quotes That Prove She’s Still the Queen of Reinvention
See what the pop icon has to say about aging, feminism and living unapologetically
Madonna has been an icon for four decades, and during her long reign as the queen of pop, the trailblazing star has always embraced provocation. Whether she’s rolling around onstage in a wedding dress, appearing in music videos with religious and sexual imagery or selling out arenas and putting on a spectacular show in her 60s, Madonna does things on her own terms and cares little about what others may think of her consistently bold choices.
In interviews, Madonna is always just as sassy and self-assured as she is onstage, and over the years, she’s shared many words of wisdom on being a strong woman. In some exciting news, Madonna is teaming up with Stranger Things producer Shawn Levy for a brand-new limited Netflix series about her life and music—marking another bold step in sharing her story her way. To get in the mood, here are 10 of the best Madonna quotes that will inspire you to channel your inner diva.
1. ‘I don’t take myself too seriously. I think that’s a quality that people have to hold onto, you have to laugh, especially at yourself.’
While naysayers have often claimed that Madonna is full of herself, she’s always maintained a sense of humor and playfulness.
2. ‘When people are busy making music and dancing, they’re kind of too busy to hate and fight. Music is one of the great unifiers.’
In a world of chaos and political division, people can still bond over the power of music, and Madonna welcomes anyone to dance to her songs.
3. ‘Smart, sassy girls who accomplish a lot and have their own cash are independent and really frightening to men.’
Madonna has always been incredibly self-possessed—and she doesn’t care what the other sex might have to say about it.
4. ‘My drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre. And that’s always pushing me, pushing me. Because even though I’ve become Somebody, I still have to prove that I’m Somebody. My struggle has never ended and it probably never will.’
Madonna has gone through many stylistic and musical reinventions, and even after decades in the pop music game, she’s still constantly pushing herself.
5. ‘I sometimes think I was born to live up to my name. How could I be anything else but what I am, having been named Madonna? I would either have ended up a nun or this.’
It’s hard to believe, but Madonna isn’t a stage name, and the singer knew that having such a rare and evocative name meant she was destined for greatness.
6. ‘I think it’s boring to stay the same. A girl likes to change her look.’
No one has embraced change quite like Madonna, and she encourages her fans to do the same.
7. ‘I’m not going to let public opinion dictate my own feelings about myself. I’m not going to apologize for anything I’ve done.’
Many women feel the need to constantly apologize for things, but Madonna thinks that instead of doing this, we should live freely and not be afraid of what others may think.
8. ‘I believe in freedom of expression, I don’t believe in censorship. I believe in equal rights for all people. And I believe women should own their sexuality and sexual expression.’
Madonna has attracted lots of controversy over the years, but she’s always positioned her outwardly sexual persona as empowering and feminist.
9. ‘I think the most controversial thing I have ever done is to stick around . . . I’m still standing. I’m one of the lucky ones and every day I count my blessings.’
At 66, Madonna is still going strong, and she recognizes that it’s a rare gift to defy the odds and stay successful for as long as she has.
10. ‘Women, generally, when they reach a certain age, have accepted that they’re not allowed to behave a certain way. But I don’t follow the rules. I never did, and I’m not going to start.’
Madonna has often been subject to ageism, and she’s refreshingly vocal about shattering preconceived notions of how women are “supposed to” act as they get older.
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