Elaine Stritch Quotes

Powerful Elaine Stritch for Daily Growth

About Elaine Stritch

Elaine Stritch, an illustrious figure in American theater, was born on November 2, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan. Known for her extraordinary talent and vivacious personality, she became a beloved icon of Broadway. Stritch's passion for acting was ignited at the age of seven when she watched a live performance of 'Sleeping Beauty.' Inspired, she pursued her dream at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she met and befriended Marlon Brando. Her professional career took off in 1946 with roles in summer stock productions and a brief stint as a radio actress. However, Stritch's breakthrough came in 1956 when she was cast as Maria Callas in the original production of 'Call Me Madam,' earning her first Tony Award nomination. Throughout her illustrious career, which spanned six decades, Stritch worked tirelessly on stage and screen. She starred in numerous productions, including 'Bus Stop' (1955), 'A Fond Farewell to Broadway' (1964), 'Company' (1970), 'Sweeney Todd' (1979), and her one-woman show 'Elaine Stritch at Liberty' (2001). Stritch's talent was not confined to the stage; she also made memorable appearances on television shows such as '30 Rock,' for which she received an Emmy Award in 2007. In her later years, Stritch continued to captivate audiences with her wit and honesty. She passed away in July 2014 at the age of 89, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of America's greatest actresses. Some of her most memorable quotes include, "I'm no spring chicken, but I'm still laying eggs," and "Enjoy every sandwich."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I am a has-been. I was a be."

This quote by Elaine Stritch humorously acknowledges her past successes ("I was a be") and accepts her present status as a "has-been," which in show business often refers to an artist whose prime has passed but still maintains some level of recognition or influence. It conveys a sense of self-deprecating charm, showing that she is at peace with the ebbs and flows of her career and life.

"I don't have time for regrets because I'm too busy being happy about what happened yesterday."

This quote suggests a mindset that emphasizes living in the present, drawing happiness from past experiences rather than dwelling on regrets. Elaine Stritch implies that one should find joy in reflecting on accomplishments and memories of the past, rather than being burdened by regrets or missed opportunities. Instead of focusing on what could have been, she encourages us to celebrate what has happened and move forward with a positive outlook towards the future.

"You can't sit here and feel sorry for yourself, you got to get up and do something."

This quote by Elaine Stritch emphasizes resilience and personal responsibility in overcoming adversity. It suggests that dwelling on one's misfortunes is unproductive and encourages individuals to take action to improve their circumstances. In essence, it conveys the idea that life's challenges demand proactivity rather than passivity, and that each person has the power to create change in their lives.

"I always say, 'Don't look back, you're not going that way.'"

Elaine Stritch's quote serves as a reminder to focus on moving forward rather than dwelling on the past. The implication is that one should learn from their experiences but avoid being stuck in regret or nostalgia, as doing so impedes progress. Instead, the advice is to keep moving ahead and embrace the opportunities that lie in the future.

"If it wasn't for me, I wouldn't be here talking to you now."

This quote by Elaine Stritch suggests a self-deprecating humor and a strong sense of personal responsibility. It implies that she believes her existence is integral to the interaction taking place between herself and her audience. In essence, she is saying that without her, this particular moment or conversation would not have transpired. This quote highlights her awareness of her impact on others and her important role in their lives.

These performers that go on about their technique and craft - oh, puleeze! How boring! I don't know what 'technique' means. But I do know what experience is.

- Elaine Stritch

Go, About, Means, Performers

I can't explain chemistry. I really can't. I haven't got a clue what it's all about. It just happens. It's like falling in love. You can't explain why you fall in love or explain why it's this particular person.

- Elaine Stritch

Love, Chemistry, Explain, Clue

My biggest dream was to get out of Michigan - to discover life beyond the Sacred Heart Convent.

- Elaine Stritch

Discover, Beyond, Michigan, Biggest Dream

There will always be ladies who lunch. Always. And apparently they live a long time.

- Elaine Stritch

Lunch, Long Time, Always, Ladies

I compare Stephen Sondheim with humor, because humor is unanalyzable. You can't analyze humor. You just have to get through it.

- Elaine Stritch

Humor, Through, Compare, Sondheim

I don't want to see my family all the time, and they're delighted, I'm sure, to be aware of that.

- Elaine Stritch

Want, Aware, Sure, Delighted

I don't wear a wig. I'd feel terrible onstage with a wig. I hate to be so 'Actors Studio'-ish, but I like to feel it's me out there.

- Elaine Stritch

Feel, Like, Wear, Wig

I don't think I'm gonna die tomorrow or even two weeks from now, or even ever. I just don't know - who the hell knows what's gonna happen to them? Nobody! Isn't that comforting? Nobody has a clue. I like that we don't know. And I like that it's somebody else's decision, not mine.

- Elaine Stritch

Die, Comforting, Weeks, Two Weeks

If I see someone saying the rosary in the wings, I know they've got talent.

- Elaine Stritch

Wings, See, Someone, Rosary

I always say, 'If you can't give a reason for the banana peel being in the alley, then don't have the comic slide over it.' Do you understand what I mean? First explain how the banana peel got there quickly. And then there's a reason for all the comedy.

- Elaine Stritch

Reason, Over It, Explain, Slide

As a diabetic, I'm a walking picnic. I have to eat measured amounts of food at certain times.

- Elaine Stritch

Walking, Measured, Times, Diabetic

All of the writing on '30 Rock' is a joy to go into. It's pretty hot stuff.

- Elaine Stritch

Joy, Rock, Pretty, 30 Rock

I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it all, whatever I do.

- Elaine Stritch

Kind, Want, Abstain, Dame

I have not had any of that surgical stuff. I am too curious to find out exactly how I progress every day of my life naturally. That is what fascinates me.

- Elaine Stritch

My Life, Curious, Every Day, Fascinates

Fear is the base of what everybody does wrong in their lives.

- Elaine Stritch

Everybody, Lives, Does, Base

For me, going to London is like coming home. In fact, I've often entertained the idea of ending my days there.

- Elaine Stritch

London, Fact, Going, Entertained

Diabetes is a lousy, lousy disease.

- Elaine Stritch

Disease, Lousy, Diabetes

There were a lot of lyrics that I sang but didn't understand. But I had this facade in performance of looking like I wrote the book.

- Elaine Stritch

Book, Like, Wrote, Lyrics

There's something about it that makes sense, Lent. You give something up, and everything's more joyful.

- Elaine Stritch

Give, More, About, Lent

I don't have a great talent for explaining myself in acting because I can't explain it.

- Elaine Stritch

Explain, Great Talent, Explaining

There's something that really frightens me - and that's fear.

- Elaine Stritch

Me, Something, Really, Frighten

I like glasses so I can go out without my makeup. Just grab your coat and get your hat and go.

- Elaine Stritch

Makeup, Go, Like, Grab

Honestly, this is a big thing to say, but I don't think I've ever been bored. If I even get an inkling of it, I split.

- Elaine Stritch

Think, Big, Been, Bored

All you have to do is say, 'I'm going home,' and you're the most popular girl at the party.

- Elaine Stritch

Going Home, Going, Most, Party

I love Birmingham, Michigan. It's lovely - you know, it's very similar to the Hamptons.

- Elaine Stritch

Love, Lovely, Very, Birmingham

When the hospital sends for me, when the ambulance comes and I ease my way out of the world, I'd rather be in Detroit, Michigan, than Lenox Hill.

- Elaine Stritch

Michigan, Ease, Rather, Detroit

Let me tell you about those convents. All that crap about extending the pinkie finger while sipping tea is a myth. Convent schools are breeding grounds for great broads and occasionally one-of-the-boys. Convent schools teach you to play against everything, which is what I'm still doing.

- Elaine Stritch

Play, Doing, Against, Sipping

You can't be funny unless you're tragic, and you can't be tragic unless you're funny.

- Elaine Stritch

Funny, You, Unless, Tragic

I loved being on Broadway, but performing has become exhausting, and I just don't want to live in New York anymore. I'm just sick of the competition in New York, the feeling that I always have to rehearse to keep up my performance. I don't feel like rehearsing, even though it should be my favorite thing in the world to do.

- Elaine Stritch

Competition, Feel, Broadway, Rehearsing

I have no intention of retiring. Even my blood sugar is better when I'm working.

- Elaine Stritch

Better, Retiring, Even, Sugar

My movie career - if such a thing even exists - is laughable.

- Elaine Stritch

Career, Movie, Even, Such A Thing

When I'm playing comedy, it is such a crap shoot of what will work and what won't.

- Elaine Stritch

Comedy, Will, Crap, Shoot

The closer a part is to you, the harder it is to play. Anything else is just imitation. If I'm playing a Russian countess, I get the hat, the accent, the outrageousness. Easy. Playing a murderess? Perfect.

- Elaine Stritch

Play, Perfect, Russian, Accent

I smoked, I drank, I did all the kicking my heels up type things, but I went to Mass on Sunday.

- Elaine Stritch

Heels, Mass, Smoked, Drank

I love reviews. Anybody who tells you they don't read reviews is a liar.

- Elaine Stritch

Love, Tells, I Love, Liar

I care about money, very much. I want it. I don't ever want to be without it. My mother once said about me, 'Elaine has to have money.'

- Elaine Stritch

Want, Very, About, I Care

Quite frankly I don't know how to be happy. I have not a clue.

- Elaine Stritch

Happy, How, Frankly, Quite Frankly

I am not influenced by other human beings. But I am inspired.

- Elaine Stritch

I Am, Other, Influenced, Beings

I love New York. I went to New York to become an actress, and I did it. And I won all the awards known to man. And I'm happy. And I came home. I came, I saw, I conquered. And it feels great.

- Elaine Stritch

Love, New, Actress, Awards

You never know what is happening to yourself when it is happening.

- Elaine Stritch

Yourself, Never, Know, Happening

I think the most interesting New Yorkers are the people who were not born here.

- Elaine Stritch

Think, New, Here, New Yorkers

New Yorkers stop me on the street all the time to say, 'You're terrific! You're the nuts!'

- Elaine Stritch

New, Stop, Terrific, New Yorkers

Isn't this fantastic, what a star I am?

- Elaine Stritch

I Am, Star, Am, Fantastic

When I want to do something badly enough, I do it, but there is a practical side of me that thinks I should be paid fairly.

- Elaine Stritch

Side, Practical, Badly, Paid

I mention I'm going home, and I'm a star immediately! This used to happen with my boyfriends - as soon as I'd say, 'I gotta go home now,' they fell in love.

- Elaine Stritch

Love, Happen, Go Home, Mention

I tell the truth, and it has gotten me into a lot of trouble. My dad used to say to me, 'If you tell the truth all day long, you will end up in jail.'

- Elaine Stritch

Will, Gotten, Dad, Trouble

I'm a good acting partner for me... when I don't have anyone else, I do really well!

- Elaine Stritch

Good, Really, Good Acting, Partner

I think I have more humour in me than anger. But those two things are great bed-fellows, performance-wise.

- Elaine Stritch

Think, More, I Think, Humour

I'm a hotel baby, absolutely: it's hard to think of a hotel I haven't stayed in.

- Elaine Stritch

Think, Stayed, Absolutely, Hotel

Audiences are not strangers to me. They're the best friends I've got in my life.

- Elaine Stritch

Best, Me, My Life, Audiences

I love audiences. My God, the best friends in the world!

- Elaine Stritch

Love, World, I Love, Audiences

If I see a great performance on television, onstage, in the movies, I go to work the next day with a renewed energy and less fear. These great artists take me out of my life and make me want to go there.

- Elaine Stritch

My Life, Next, I See, Onstage

Fans recognize me all over the place. But the second you need anything, they're never around! They're like the police!

- Elaine Stritch

Need, Over, Like, Police

I think being boring is just the worst sin of all time.

- Elaine Stritch

Think, Boring, I Think, Sin

Talent is seductive.

- Elaine Stritch

Talent, Seductive

Why haven't I made more movies? Nobody asked me.

- Elaine Stritch

Movies, More, Made, Asked

I could have made a lot of money doing 'Golden Girls,' and I would have been good. But the image of it! And for me to work with Betty White every day would be like taking cyanide.

- Elaine Stritch

Doing, Image, Been, Golden

You cannot tell an audience a lie. They know it before you do; before it's out of your mouth, they know it's a lie.

- Elaine Stritch

Audience, Tell, Before, Mouth

I just serve others through entertaining. That's when I am happy.

- Elaine Stritch

I Am, Through, Entertaining, I Am Happy

You have to be very, very good looking to get ahead in motion pictures.

- Elaine Stritch

Motion, Ahead, Very, Pictures

Making clever speeches takes a lot of work and a lot of time.

- Elaine Stritch

Work, Making, Lot, Clever

I don't think there's any thrill in the world like doing work you're good at.

- Elaine Stritch

World, Doing, Think, Thrill

I think it's the wrong way around to say, 'When you get older move to the country.' I think when you get older you move to New York.

- Elaine Stritch

Think, New, Country, Wrong Way

I'm loaded with talent.

- Elaine Stritch

Talent, Loaded

I like being talked about. I think some people really don't... because they're secure enough and they don't need that.

- Elaine Stritch

Think, Some, I Think, Talked

There's certainly nothing lasting and definite about the theater.

- Elaine Stritch

Theater, Certainly, Definite, Lasting

I love holidays in New York. I love 'em. I want to celebrate something all the time, and New York has holidays for every day of the week, practically. I like holidays in New York City.

- Elaine Stritch

Love, Week, New, New York City

Certain type of actresses get younger instead of older. I always say, 'Only ingenues age.'

- Elaine Stritch

Say, Always, Type, Younger

Talent is very dangerous. It alienates people.

- Elaine Stritch

Talent, People, Very, Dangerous

I like celebrities. I love people who are famous. Always have.

- Elaine Stritch

Love, Always, I Love, Celebrities

I don't have to go to a doctor and have my face changed. It terrifies me that women do that.

- Elaine Stritch

Me, Face, Go, Doctor

I think taking care of yourself, health-wise, in every way, is a 100 percent winner.

- Elaine Stritch

Yourself, Think, I Think, Winner

My idea of serenity - that wonderful word that everybody's trying to get into their life - is call-waiting.

- Elaine Stritch

Serenity, Idea, Everybody, Word

There are a lot of things I do that I don't want to, but I have to. It's truly an emotional need for me to perform.

- Elaine Stritch

Want, Need, Lot, Perform

Betty White is probably a very nice woman.

- Elaine Stritch

Woman, White, Very, Betty

What I want to understand is what I am talking about on the stage. What I don't want to understand is what the government is talking about when the government tells me about taxes.

- Elaine Stritch

Want, Understand, About, Taxes

I do believe in the infallibility of the Pope, because I think we have to believe in something.

- Elaine Stritch

Think, I Think, Pope, Infallibility

I don't want to see a movie twice. I don't want to do anything twice.

- Elaine Stritch

Want, See, Movie, Twice

Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.

- Elaine Stritch

Comedy, Easy, Hard, Dying

The people in New York - their humor is on a level that goes, uh, very deep, you know?

- Elaine Stritch

Deep, New, Very, Humor

I'm funny when I want to be. And I'm even funny when I don't want to be.

- Elaine Stritch

Want, Even, Funny

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