Shirley Maclaine Quotes

Powerful Shirley Maclaine for Daily Growth

About Shirley Maclaine

Shirley MacLaine, born on April 24, 1934, in Richmond, Virginia, is an acclaimed American actress, author, and activist who has spanned over seven decades in the entertainment industry. Known for her unconventional approach to life and art, she has earned fame as much for her acting career as for her metaphysical explorations and spiritual beliefs. MacLaine's initial foray into show business began at the age of four when she appeared in a school play. Encouraged by her supportive family, particularly her father, MacLaine moved to New York City at 16 to pursue an acting career. Her big break came with the Broadway debut of "Picnic" (1953), which led to a successful film career. Some of her notable works include "The Trouble with Harry" (1955), "Some Came Running" (1958), and her Academy Award-winning performance in "The Apartment" (1960). However, MacLaine is perhaps best known for her role as a medium in the critically acclaimed film "Terms of Endearment" (1983), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. In addition to her acting career, MacLaine is renowned for her introspective and provocative books that delve into her spiritual beliefs and experiences. Works such as "Journey to the Self" (1967) and "Out on a Limb" (1983) have sparked intense debate and fascination among readers. Throughout her life, MacLaine has been unafraid to challenge societal norms and explore unconventional ideas. Her work continues to inspire and intrigue audiences around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm not interested in living forever, just long enough to do everything I want to do."

Shirley MacLaine expresses a desire for a lifespan that allows her to accomplish all she aspires to, rather than an infinite existence. This quote suggests a deep appreciation for the finite nature of life, acknowledging its preciousness and urgency. It implies a zest for living and experiencing all that life has to offer within a given span of time, emphasizing quality over quantity in one's pursuit of personal fulfillment.

"The universe doesn't punish you for having too many dreams."

This quote suggests that the universe, or life itself, does not penalize individuals for harboring a multitude of aspirations and dreams. Instead, it implies that having numerous dreams is natural, encouraged, and integral to personal growth and fulfillment. It underscores the idea that one's imagination should be boundless, as it fuels curiosity, inspiration, and innovation. The universe, in this context, represents the limitless potential for personal development and achievement. Ultimately, the quote encourages us to dream big and pursue our passions without fear or restriction.

"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this."

Shirley MacLaine's quote emphasizes that life consists of a succession of formative experiences that contribute to our personal growth, regardless of the apparent challenges or difficulties we face during these encounters. The idea is that, through these experiences, we expand our knowledge, understanding, and overall size as individuals - not just physically but in terms of character, wisdom, and compassion. However, recognizing this positive impact may not always be immediate or easy, making it crucial to maintain a reflective perspective when facing life's challenges.

"I think the universe just wanted me to tell the truth."

This quote suggests that Shirley MacLaine believes she has a unique role or purpose in sharing the truth, as if it's part of a larger cosmic plan or destiny. It implies a sense of alignment between her personal journey and the universe's intention, fostering a belief in self-expression and authenticity as an essential aspect of one's life path.

"The only time I feel frightened is when I'm not moving forward."

This quote suggests that growth, progression, or movement forward helps Shirley MacLaine to overcome fear. Stagnation or standing still can instill a sense of apprehension within her. It implies that fear often arises when one is not taking steps towards personal development, change, or achieving goals. The quote encourages us to face our fears by continuing to move forward in life.

Crystals amplify the consciousness.

- Shirley MacLaine

Consciousness, Amplify, Crystals

You know when you eat too many sweets and get diabetes? Paparazzi are the diabetes of materialistic culture.

- Shirley MacLaine

Materialistic, Many, Too, Paparazzi

Of course I'm schooled in the old school method: taking what I think the director wants, then reworking it through my own brain and heart.

- Shirley MacLaine

Think, Through, I Think, Old School

I'm a peaceful person once work ethic is established.

- Shirley MacLaine

Person, Once, Established, Ethic

I can't advise any of the young ones, because I don't know what their background was, but I would suggest that anyone who wants to be famous more than anything - there's a real problem.

- Shirley MacLaine

Problem, Young, Anything, Advise

We've had so many lifetimes of different cultures and different religions and different points of view and different wars and different loves and different children.

- Shirley MacLaine

Loves, Had, Many, Lifetimes

When times are bad, people like to lose themselves in the sheer glamour of another period: beautiful wardrobes, magnificent meals served in elegant settings.

- Shirley MacLaine

Bad, Settings, Period, Glamour

You know, I think I had my first past life recall when I was 7.

- Shirley MacLaine

Past, Think, I Think, Past Life

I don't need anyone to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.

- Shirley MacLaine

Relationship, Will, Need, Rectify

Movie makers now choose profit over vision.

- Shirley MacLaine

Vision, Movie, Over, Profit

The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.

- Shirley MacLaine

More, Should, Makes, Traveled

Sex is hardly ever just about sex.

- Shirley MacLaine

Sex, About, Ever, Hardly

Remember, I come from such an excessively overdone, red-carpet place called Hollywood. So I'm used to people blowing up their success in ways that are far above and beyond the truth.

- Shirley MacLaine

Hollywood, Used, Overdone, Blowing

The mob taught me how to play gin rummy.

- Shirley MacLaine

Play, Mob, How, Gin

I was afraid I would get the Oscar for 'Irma La Douce' because it was popular. But I didn't want to because I didn't really think it was that good.

- Shirley MacLaine

Think, Want, Oscar, La

I mean, I'm just speaking of my own experiences and my own desires, and it's a kind of a childlike wonder that could really possibly speculate on other dimensions.

- Shirley MacLaine

Kind, Other, My Own, Possibly

I don't do like diva trips and stuff.

- Shirley MacLaine

Diva, Like, Stuff, Trips

If anything interferes with my inner peace, I will walk away. Arguments with family members. All that stuff. None of it matters.

- Shirley MacLaine

Will, Away, None, Family Members

I've made so many movies playing a hooker that they don't pay me in the regular way anymore. They leave it on the dresser.

- Shirley MacLaine

Pay, Made, Many, Dresser

Women being pitted each other another in Hollywood is an old tactic, but it's not real at all.

- Shirley MacLaine

Old, Hollywood, Other, Tactic

The person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.

- Shirley MacLaine

Never, How, Himself, Laugh

Women love working together. That's my experience anyway.

- Shirley MacLaine

Love, Experience, Working, Working Together

I think the hill one has to trudge in order to understand a man's baggage is more of a trek than I'd like to take right now.

- Shirley MacLaine

Think, I Think, Baggage, Trek

I mean, no one asks beauty secrets of me, or 'What size do you wear?' or 'Who's your couturier?' They ask me about really deep things and I love that.

- Shirley MacLaine

Love, Beauty, Deep, Secrets

A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never ceased to be amused.

- Shirley MacLaine

Never, How, Himself, Amused

I don't know why anybody would be in awe of me.

- Shirley MacLaine

Me, Anybody, Would, Awe

I'm not interested in fame at all.

- Shirley MacLaine

Fame, Interested, Not Interested

You have to be talentedly insecure in order to be a good actress. And then it's the director's job to make you more miserable and get a good take.

- Shirley MacLaine

Director, More, Actress, Insecure

Well, when you're relaxed, your mind takes you to the whole reality. There's no such thing as time when you're really relaxed. That's why meditation works.

- Shirley MacLaine

Mind, Why, Works, Relaxed

It's useless to hold a person to anything he says while he's in love, drunk, or running for office.

- Shirley MacLaine

Love, Drunk, Running, Useless

I wasn't afraid of getting old, because I was never a great beauty.

- Shirley MacLaine

Beauty, Never, Getting, Getting Old

I love the idea that I'm the oldest one in the room because I can get away with anything!

- Shirley MacLaine

Love, Away, Idea, Oldest

I'd like to go to another planet, which I might live long enough to accomplish. Just get on a spaceship and go. But not the moon. I don't see any flowers there. The moon is too close. I want to go further.

- Shirley MacLaine

Flowers, Space, Which, Spaceship

The comedy of class, played so straight, is a wonderful thing for an actor to sink their teeth into.

- Shirley MacLaine

Comedy, Wonderful, Sink, Wonderful Thing

I'd like to introduce someone who has just come into my life. I've admired him for 35 years. He's someone who represents integrity, honesty, art, and on top of that stuff I'm actually sleeping with him.

- Shirley MacLaine

Life, My Life, Him, Introduce

I think when I was in my early twenties and middle twenties I didn't even know I wasn't living up to my potential. A couple of friends told me I wasn't and told me to get my act together, and it made a huge impact on me.

- Shirley MacLaine

Act, I Think, Couple, Potential

I can be a lazy slob.

- Shirley MacLaine

Lazy, I Can, Slob

There are stars who are proficiently paranoid enough to hide what they really think. I can't.

- Shirley MacLaine

Stars, Think, Hide, Paranoid

We need proof in our society.

- Shirley MacLaine

Society, Need, Our, Proof

When a child comes in, I believe that it's a 'multipersonhood,' and it knows it, its consciousness knows it, and it has a nuclei in the center of its consciousness that is the repository of all experience and all knowledge. And when you look in the eyes of your baby and you feel this sense that they are an old soul, I believe indeed they are.

- Shirley MacLaine

Soul, Believe, Feel, Repository

If they would teach us from the time we're little to meditate and get in touch with all that our souls know, we wouldn't fight so much.

- Shirley MacLaine

Teach, Touch, Souls, Meditate

I don't like leaving my dog when I go to England and she is with me all the time.

- Shirley MacLaine

England, Go, Like, Leaving

The best way to get husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they are too old to do it.

- Shirley MacLaine

Perhaps, Best Way, Too, Husbands

I'm an artist, therefore I think I am sensitive to human pain.

- Shirley MacLaine

Pain, Think, I Think, Therefore

Remember what people used to say about meditation? Now everyone is doing it.

- Shirley MacLaine

Remember, Doing, Everyone, Meditation

When you walk 10 hours, 11 hours a day by yourself, you are doing a walking meditation.

- Shirley MacLaine

Walking, Doing, Hours, Meditation

Of course, we're all a mass of contradictions.

- Shirley MacLaine

Course, Mass, Contradictions

Someday perhaps change will occur when times are ready for it instead of always when it is too late. Someday change will be accepted as life itself.

- Shirley MacLaine

Too Late, Will, Always, Ready

It's a big deal for me to say I'm over politics.

- Shirley MacLaine

Politics, Big, Over, Big Deal

I think of life itself now as a wonderful play that I've written for myself, and so my purpose is to have the utmost fun playing my part.

- Shirley MacLaine

Play, Think, I Think, Utmost

For me, the safest place is out on a limb.

- Shirley MacLaine

Me, Place, Limb, Safest

I want women to be liberated and still be able to have a nice ass and shake it.

- Shirley MacLaine

Want, Shake, Still, Liberated

I look like a real bag lady when I go to Starbucks with my dog and get my chai.

- Shirley MacLaine

Go, Starbucks, Like, Lady

I think male actors get confused by their own vanity.

- Shirley MacLaine

Confused, Think, I Think, Vanity

My mother was Canadian, so you never knew what she was thinking.

- Shirley MacLaine

Mother, She, Never, Canadian

I think we plan everything, somehow, on another level.

- Shirley MacLaine

Think, Level, I Think, Plan

I don't have an assistant. I make a lot of people around me my slaves, but no assistant.

- Shirley MacLaine

Me, Slaves, Lot, Assistant

I don't feel competitive.

- Shirley MacLaine

Feel, Competitive

Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. It's where all the fruit is.

- Shirley MacLaine

Fruit, Go, Afraid, Limb

The soul is everlasting, and its learning experience is lifetime after lifetime.

- Shirley MacLaine

Soul, Learning Experience, Lifetime

I'm not one for wardrobe.

- Shirley MacLaine

Wardrobe

I live in too many cities.

- Shirley MacLaine

Live, Too, Many, Cities

I've been through so much of my own self-search that I'm not as consumed with who I am as I used to be.

- Shirley MacLaine

Through, Been, Consumed, My Own

I can't give up my own identity.

- Shirley MacLaine

Give, Own, My Own, Identity

Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.

- Shirley MacLaine

Friendship, Strangers, Would, Makes

People think I'm nuts.

- Shirley MacLaine

People, Think, Nuts

Things are done according to money these days.

- Shirley MacLaine

Money, Days, Things, According

I make my mistakes in public.

- Shirley MacLaine

Public, Make, Mistakes

Being old is such a treat!

- Shirley MacLaine

Old, Being, Treat

I've gotten crankier in my old age.

- Shirley MacLaine

Age, Old, Gotten, Old Age

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