Helen Hayes Quotes

Powerful Helen Hayes for Daily Growth

About Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes (October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993), an American actress widely recognized as the First Lady of American Theatre, was born in Washington D.C., where she developed a love for acting from an early age. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in show business, she made her stage debut at age 5 and by her teenage years, she was already performing professionally on Broadway. Hayes' career took off in the 1920s with notable roles in plays such as "The Green Hat" (1921), "Victoria Regina" (1934), and "The Sin of Martha Queely" (1936). Her portrayal of Queen Mary in George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan" in 1936 earned her the first of her three Academy Awards, making her the first actress to win an Oscar, a Tony Award, and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Throughout her illustrious career, Hayes remained committed to both stage and screen. She appeared in films like "The Sin of Madelon Claudet" (1931), "Airport" (1970), and "Songbird" (1989). Notably, she was the first actress to play a major role on television when she starred in the CBS series "Helen Hayes Star of the Theatre" in 1952. In addition to her acting prowess, Hayes was an ardent advocate for civil rights and social justice, working with organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Her service was recognized in 1957 when she became the first actor to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Helen Hayes' influence on American theatre and film, as well as her commitment to social activism, continue to inspire generations of artists and advocates today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Acting is nothing more or less than standing up naked and turning around very slowing until the thunder of applause dies out."

This quote by Helen Hayes suggests that acting is a vulnerable, exposing experience, much like being naked. The "standing up" may represent an actor stepping into the spotlight to present themselves and their craft, while "turning around slowly" indicates the deliberate, meticulous performance of their art. The "thunder of applause" symbolizes the audience's recognition and approval of the actor's work. In essence, Hayes implies that acting is a deeply personal, yet public, exploration of self, requiring patience, skill, and a willingness to be exposed for the sake of artistic expression and audience appreciation.


"The stage has always been a second home to me, where I can live all the joy, sorrow, hopes, fears, triumphs, and defeats that are mine by right as a human being."

This quote by Helen Hayes highlights the profound connection between an actor and their stage persona. For her, the stage serves not just as a professional platform but also as a personal sanctuary where she can express the full range of human emotions - joy, sorrow, hope, fear, triumph, and defeat. Essentially, it is a place for self-exploration and expression, allowing her to live out the inherent rights of being human.


"I am not young and I will not be young again. I have decided to grow old gracefully."

This quote by Helen Hayes acknowledges the irrevocable passage of time, expressing a mature acceptance that youth is fleeting and cannot be reclaimed. Instead, she chooses to embrace aging gracefully, implying wisdom, maturity, and the appreciation of life's experiences as she moves forward in her journey.


"Age is no barrier. It's a limit you put on your mind."

This quote by Helen Hayes emphasizes that age should not be seen as a constraint, but rather, it's a self-imposed limitation based on one's mindset. In other words, people can overcome the challenges of aging if they maintain a positive, open-minded approach to life and opportunities. The implication is that our perception of age plays a significant role in shaping our experiences and potential accomplishments.


"To be an artist, one must believe in miracles."

This quote suggests that to be an artist, one needs to maintain a sense of wonder and belief in the transformative power of creativity - the idea that something ordinary can be transformed into something extraordinary, or that inspiration can lead to unexpected outcomes, much like a miracle. It underscores the essence of artistic expression as a means to transcend reality and create something magical, unique, and profound through the act of creation.


There's a little vanity chair that Charlie gave me the first Christmas we knew each other. I'll not be parting with that, nor our bed - the four-poster - I'll be needing that to die in.

- Helen Hayes

Die, Bed, Other, Needing

The good die young but not always. The wicked prevail but not consistently. I am confused by life, and I feel safe within the confines of the theatre.

- Helen Hayes

Die, Young, Always, Wicked

I'm a boss by nature. I'm bossy. I'm not imperious, but I don't really want people to curtsy low before me and back out of rooms, but I do like to run things.

- Helen Hayes

Nature, Boss, Rooms, Bossy

The story of a love is not important-what is important is that one is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.

- Helen Hayes

Love, Capable, Eternity, Love Is

The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy.

- Helen Hayes

Life, Seventy, Hardest, Between

People who refuse to rest honorably on their laurels when they reach retirement age seem very admirable to me.

- Helen Hayes

Rest, Very, Honorably, Admirable

When traveling with someone, take large does of patience and tolerance with your morning coffee.

- Helen Hayes

Travel, Someone, Take, Tolerance

Actors cannot choose the manner in which they are born. Consequently, it is the one gesture in their lives completely devoid of self-consciousness.

- Helen Hayes

Born, Which, Lives, Self-Consciousness

The truth is that there is only one terminal dignity - love. And the story of a love is not important - what is important is that one is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.

- Helen Hayes

Love, Capable, Eternity, Permitted

Childhood is a short season.

- Helen Hayes

Childhood, Parenting, Short, Season

We relish news of our heroes, forgetting that we are extraordinary to somebody too.

- Helen Hayes

Inspirational, News, Relish

Actors work and slave and it is the color of your hair that can determine your fate in the end.

- Helen Hayes

Hair, Fate, Slave, In The End

I cry out for order and find it only in art.

- Helen Hayes

Art, Find, Only, Order

Mere longevity is a good thing for those who watch Life from the side lines. For those who play the game, an hour may be a year, a single day's work an achievement for eternity.

- Helen Hayes

Play, Eternity, Side, Longevity

Legends die hard. They survive as truth rarely does.

- Helen Hayes

Die, Survive, Legends, Die Hard

Only the poet can look beyond the detail and see the whole picture.

- Helen Hayes

Poet, See, Only, Detail

From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover that you have wings.

- Helen Hayes

Love, Discover, Other, Parents

Stardom can be a gilded slavery.

- Helen Hayes

Famous, Slavery, Gilded, Stardom

The worst constructed play is a Bach fugue when compared to life.

- Helen Hayes

Play, Worst, Constructed, Compared

Everybody starts at the top, and then has the problem of staying there. Lasting accomplishment, however, is still achieved through a long, slow climb and self-discipline.

- Helen Hayes

Through, Everybody, However, Accomplishment

I'm leaving the screen because I don't think I am very good in the pictures and I have this beautiful dream that I'm elegant on the stage.

- Helen Hayes

Think, Screen, Very, Leaving

Age is not important unless you're a cheese.

- Helen Hayes

Age, Important, Unless, Cheese

Every human being on this earth is born with a tragedy, and it isn't original sin. He's born with the tragedy that he has to grow up... a lot of people don't have the courage to do it.

- Helen Hayes

Grow, Original, Human Being, Sin

One has to grow up with good talk in order to form the habit of it.

- Helen Hayes

Communication, Habit, Grow, Grow Up

If you rest, you rust.

- Helen Hayes

Rest, You, Rust

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