Ben Vereen Quotes

Powerful Ben Vereen for Daily Growth

About Ben Vereen

Ben Vereen, born Benjamin Franklin Vereen Jr. on October 10, 1948, in Natick, Massachusetts, is an acclaimed American actor, singer, and dancer known for his versatile talent and electrifying performances. Raised by a single mother who instilled in him a deep love for the arts, Vereen discovered his passion for performing at an early age. He attended Boston's School of Performing Arts before moving to New York City to pursue a professional career. Vereen made his Broadway debut in 1967 as Jesus in "Godspell," a role that earned him a Tony Award nomination. His breakout performance came in the title role of "Pippin" (1972), a role he reprised in the 1973 television production, earning an Emmy Award. Throughout his career, Vereen has graced stages and screens worldwide. He has appeared in numerous films, including "Funny Lady" (1975) with Barbra Streisand and "Roots: The Next Generations" (1979). On television, he's best known for portraying Chicken George in the miniseries "Roots" (1977), a role that solidified his status as a cultural icon. Vereen's influence extends beyond his performances. He is an active advocate for civil rights, AIDS awareness, and arts education. In 2013, he was honored with a Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. Quotes reflecting Vereen's philosophy and outlook on life include: 1. "Art is a way of reconciling yourself with your true self." 2. "We are not human beings having spiritual experiences; we are spiritual beings having human experiences." 3. "The artist's job is to take people where they never dreamed they could go." Ben Vereen continues to inspire and captivate audiences with his magnetic performances and enduring spirit.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails."

This quote suggests that one cannot control external circumstances or situations (the direction of the wind), but they have the power to adapt their response or strategy (adjusting their sails) in order to navigate through those circumstances effectively. In other words, it emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and personal responsibility in overcoming challenges and achieving success despite unfavorable conditions.

"To be free, you have to be brave."

This quote by Ben Vereen underscores that true freedom is not a passive state, but an active one that requires courage. To attain personal or societal freedom, one must face challenges, confront fear, and be bold in their actions and decisions. Courage enables us to break free from limitations, overcome obstacles, and create change, whether it's within ourselves or the world around us.

"The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life worth living."

This quote by Ben Vereen emphasizes that art is not just about earning a living, but it plays a significant role in enriching and adding meaning to our lives. Art serves as an essential human expression, allowing us to explore emotions, ideas, and creativity that make our existence more meaningful and fulfilling. It transcends the mundane aspects of life and helps us connect with ourselves, each other, and the world around us in profound ways.

"You've got to get up every morning with a mind to be conqueror or a mind to be conquered."

This quote by Ben Vereen emphasizes the importance of our mindset in determining the course of our lives. Every day presents us with opportunities, challenges, and choices. The phrase "get up every morning" suggests starting anew each day. The choice to have a "mind to be a conqueror" implies setting goals, being determined, persistent, and resilient, taking control of one's life by making deliberate decisions, overcoming obstacles, and achieving success. On the other hand, having a "mind to be conquered" suggests giving in to fear, doubts, and external forces, allowing circumstances to control your life instead of shaping it according to your desires. Essentially, this quote reminds us that our mindset shapes our destiny. We can choose to approach each day with courage, determination, and a conqueror's spirit or allow ourselves to be overcome by the challenges we face.

"Life is a dance, and the floor is hot, but it's the courageous who dance longer."

This quote suggests that life is an ongoing journey filled with challenges, represented as a hot dance floor, where every step can be potentially challenging or uncomfortable. However, it's those who possess courage, resilience, and determination - symbolized by the ability to keep dancing - who persevere through life's difficulties for a longer period. In essence, it encourages us to bravely face life's challenges, showing grit and fortitude as we move forward on our dance of existence.

If we plant the right seeds, tomorrow will be better. If you put out good things, then you'll get good things back. That's part of our responsibility as entertainers.

- Ben Vereen

Seeds, Will, Part, Entertainers

The theater was my first training ground. It taught me discipline, dedication and appreciation of hard work.

- Ben Vereen

Work, Dedication, Training Ground

Live stage is being made as you go along. You feel the energy. There's nothing like a live audience.

- Ben Vereen

Audience, Like, Made, Live Audience

I don't dance like I used to, but I'm moving and I'll be doing my form of dance at Town Hall... I hit my limitations but I learn to work with what I've got.

- Ben Vereen

Doing, Like, Town, Town Hall

I had a teacher, he was 86 years old and his name was Luigi in New York City, and he said, 'Never stop moving. You get to reinvent yourself.' So you have to find ways to reinventing yourself. Especially today, because it's a whole different market - social media is so important.

- Ben Vereen

City, Reinvent, Had, Reinventing

I didn't know who Langston Hughes was till he met me backstage.

- Ben Vereen

Me, Till, Hughes, Backstage

Nine years after I had my own accident, I find that in trying to go back to doing those things that I used to do just doesn't fit. Everything seems to just fall apart. I don't know why but I think it is because I am this new creature.

- Ben Vereen

Doing, I Think, Nine, Apart

The death of my daughter is a subject I talk about briefly because there is nothing more tragic.

- Ben Vereen

Death, More, Subject, Tragic

People talk about love and it seems like a cliche but it's a real thing - the more love we spread around the world the more it's going to change lives.

- Ben Vereen

Love, Like, Lives, Real Thing

I love sharing my story. It's endlessly healing.

- Ben Vereen

Love, Healing, Endlessly, Sharing

Sometimes we look for those thunderous things to happen in our life for our lives to change or go in the other direction. We seek the miracle. We seek the parting of the seas, the moving of the mountains. But no, it's a quiet thing. At least for me it was.

- Ben Vereen

Mountains, Sometimes, Other, Seas

As I laid in the hospital bed I started thinking that I had a show to do. I was hoping the Doctor would put me together so I could do the show.

- Ben Vereen

Bed, Could, Laid, Hospital

The stage sharpened my creative instrument and encouraged me to go deeper and try new things.

- Ben Vereen

New Things, New, Sharpened, Deeper

So be encouraged and dedicate yourself to your dream and if your dream should come my way one day then we will dance upon the boards of life.

- Ben Vereen

Will, One Day, Boards, Dedicate

Our creator says, 'Here's your birth and here's your death' - and the rest are the things you learn on your journey. This was my experience - and the choice is, I can lay in the misery, or choose to learn from it and move on.

- Ben Vereen

Death, Here, Misery, Move On

I coach young people. I have a group called BTP - Broadway Theatre Project.

- Ben Vereen

Theatre, Young, Young People, Coach

I go to my grandchildren. They keep their grandpa informed on what's going on.

- Ben Vereen

Grandchildren, Informed, Grandpa

When people come and see my show, I try to infuse into them that they can walk away feeling like their lives are a victory.

- Ben Vereen

Away, Like, Lives, Walk

I want to show people what the possibilities are if you take care of yourself and do the right thing.

- Ben Vereen

Possibilities, Want, Show, Right Thing

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.