"I've been reckless, but I'm not a rebel without a cause"
About this Quote
The intent is control. By admitting “reckless,” she disarms critics and signals candor, a commodity celebrities are always selling and rarely offering. The second half is the real move: not a denial of chaos, but a claim of purpose. Subtext: if I broke rules, it wasn’t because I was empty or bored; it was because I was searching, surviving, or choosing. That distinction matters in a culture that punishes women for volatility while romanticizing men for it.
Context does a lot of lifting here. Jolie’s early image was curated by press attention to wildness, sexuality, self-harm rumors, and gothic bravado, then dramatically re-angled through humanitarian work, motherhood, and eventually public conversations about health and violence. The quote sits at that pivot point: a bridge between “young trouble” and “adult intention.” It invites you to reread the mess as narrative, not malfunction - not random fire, but a flare shot from someone trying to be seen.
Quote Details
| Topic | Self-Improvement |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Jolie, Angelina. (2026, January 14). I've been reckless, but I'm not a rebel without a cause. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-reckless-but-im-not-a-rebel-without-a-28644/
Chicago Style
Jolie, Angelina. "I've been reckless, but I'm not a rebel without a cause." FixQuotes. January 14, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-reckless-but-im-not-a-rebel-without-a-28644/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I've been reckless, but I'm not a rebel without a cause." FixQuotes, 14 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-reckless-but-im-not-a-rebel-without-a-28644/. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.




