Elaine Stritch Quotes

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

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.

Diabetes is a lousy, lousy disease.

I wouldn't have a nose job. I like my nose fine.

There's nothing attractive about doing a documentary. Nothing. It's hard, hard work, and I find having all the attention of the day on me a very unattractive proposition.

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.

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.'

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

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

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.

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

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.

I certainly was not the romantic lead. I couldn't be that, because I was not that good looking. And that is something about Hollywood that I do not like at all. Why can't a woman who is just normally good looking fall in love? I mean, everybody in the movies is so good looking.

I'm going to do less performing because I'm tired. It's hard to convince anybody that you're just going to take it easy.

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

I don't know what the hell I'm doing up there half the time. 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. I know in my gut when I've done a scene right.

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

Woody Allen is a better actor than anybody from the Actors Studio, and he can be anybody he says he is.

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.

Betty White is probably a very nice woman.

This age thing is all up to you. It's like happiness is up to you. You just have to understand what it is before you get it.

I don't know what should have happened in my life, but I do know that I'm dancing as fast as I can.

It's very disconcerting to start out and to say, "I'm going to tell the truth," and then to realize it's that much trouble.

When you're dealing with your life, my God, you gotta tell the truth.

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.

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.

I don't know what to do with Warren Beatty. All I know is that he wasn't attracted to me. That's all right.

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

People will always be around to tell you you're no good or you're wrong or unwise to keep doing what you want to do. They're wrong. They're always wrong. Keep going.

I want to settle down this last time. I say last, because I don't think I'm in any condition to live a long time from now. The bell's gonna ring pretty soon.

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

Tony Bennett said to me, "Wow, your talent is amazing." Maybe he's a bore, maybe he's a jerk, but when he said that to me, I didn't need anything more than that.

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

And why not do something new every day of your life? Change! Change!

I felt that I committed myself too much. I promised too much. But that way it's exciting.

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

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

The terrifying thing in my life is that I am just an actress. And I have to keep pushing it and getting approval, approval, approval or I don’t think I’m worth two cents. And I am starting to get over it, thank God. And I’m just sad because I don’t have many years left and I wish I had a longer space of time to think that Elaine Stritch is okay.

I’d like to discover life. Quite frankly I don’t know how to be happy. I have not a clue. I only serve — and I don’t say that with any grandeur. I just serve others through entertaining. That’s when I am happy. I’m not just delighted with myself when I’m entertaining, but I’m happier than when I’m not.

I like to keep active. I've got too much energy not to.

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. If you're a nice broad they'll look after you.

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

For my money, insecurity, depression, etc, can be healed by way of El Morocco, sad songs at 4am, and the pop of a champagne cork

Well if I had my choice I would not - I wouldn't mind working with Alec Baldwin, but the mother role - I'm kidding. It's terrific. I'll tell you what happened with Alec Baldwin and myself. This is a couple acting together just this side of heaven. He's one of the best actors I've ever worked with in whole life. And I - I'm not overdoing it. I just think he's about the best around today. So I got lucky.

If somebody doesn't have any talent, get off the stage! You're wasting my time.

Drama drama drama. The public wants it, so let them get the whole ugly mess. Why not?

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.

Onstage, nothing is as important as truth, nothing. As soon as you lie, they know it.