What I learned in jail is that I can’t change. I can’t live a different lifestyle-this is it. This is the life that they gave and this is the life that I made.

Meaning of the quote

Tupac Shakur, a famous American musician, shares that while in jail, he realized he couldn't change who he was or live a different life. He felt the life he had was the one he was given and the one he had created for himself. Tupac's quote suggests that he had accepted his current circumstances and way of living, even if it wasn't the ideal life he had hoped for.

About Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur was an iconic American rapper and actor, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential of all time. He was a prominent political activist and known for his socially conscious lyrics addressing issues like injustice and marginalization. Despite a turbulent life, Shakur left an incredible legacy, with over 75 million records sold worldwide and numerous hit songs that are still beloved today.

More about the author

More quotes from Tupac Shakur

My mama always used to tell me: ‘If you can’t find somethin’ to live for, you best find somethin’ to die for.’

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

Let the Lord judge the criminals.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I don’t have to talk about whether or not I got raped in jail.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

America wants its respect.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

Somebody help me, tell me where to go from here cause even Thugs cry, but do the Lord care?

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

It seems like every time you come up something happens to bring you back down.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I worked hard all my life as far as this music business. I dreamed of the day when I could go to New York and feel comfortable and they could come out here and be comfortable.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I don’t see myself being special; I just see myself having more responsibilities than the next man. People look to me to do things for them, to have answers.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I think I’m a natural-born leader. I know how to bow down to authority if it’s authority that I respect.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I don’t have no fear of death. My only fear is coming back reincarnated.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

With all my fans I got a family again.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I’m 23 years old. I might just be my mother’s child, but in all reality, I’m everybody’s child. Nobody raised me; I was raised in this society.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

All I’m trying to do is survive and make good out of the dirty, nasty, unbelievable lifestyle that they gave me.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I never killed anybody, I never raped anybody, I never committed no crimes that weren’t honorable.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

It’s a struggle for every young Black man. You know how it is, only God can judge us.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

In my mind I’m a blind man doin’ time.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

Don’t change on me. Don’t extort me unless you intend to do it forever.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I just spent 11 and a half months in a maximum-security jail, got shot five times, and was wrongly convicted of a crime I didn’t commit.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

The only thing that comes to a sleeping man is dreams.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

There’s nobody in the business strong enough to scare me.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

It’s the game of life. Do I win or do I lose? One day they’re gonna shut the game down. I gotta have as much fun and go around the board as many times as I can before it’s my turn to leave.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I would rather have been shot straight-up in cold blood-but to be set up? By people who you trusted? That’s bad.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

The only time I have problems is when I sleep.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I’m a reflection of the community.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

If I win and get the money, then the Oakland Police department is going to buy a boys’ home, me a house, my family a house, and a Stop Police Brutality Center.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

Is it a crime, to fight, for what is mine?

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

Dre was one of my heros in the music industry. If he’s not down for his homeboys, I don’t wanna be a part of him or around him.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

When you do rap albums, you got to train yourself. You got to constantly be in character.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I’ll probably be punished for hard living.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

If you believe in God, believe in Death Row East.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

We all gonna die, we bleed from similar veins.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

I just don’t know how to deal with so many people giving me that much affection. I never had that in my life.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

Thug Life to me is dead.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)

What I learned in jail is that I can’t change. I can’t live a different lifestyle-this is it. This is the life that they gave and this is the life that I made.

Tupac Shakur

American rapper (1971-1996)