Ellen Terry Quotes

• Only a great actor finds the difficulties of the actor's art infinite.

  Ellen Terry

  Art, Acting, Actors

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  47 Copy quote

• Wonderful women! Have you ever thought how much we all, and women especially, owe to Shakespeare for his vindication of women in these fearless, high-spirited, resolute and intelligent heroines?

  Ellen Terry

  Intelligent, Fearless, Wonderful

  12 Copy quote

• Imagination! Imagination! I put it first years ago, when I was asked what qualities I thought necessary for success upon the stage. And I am still of the same opinion. Imagination, industry [hard work], and intelligence-the three I's-are all indispensable to the actor, but of these three the greatest is, without any doubt, imagination.

  Ellen Terry

  Hard Work, Years, Imagination

  9 Copy quote

• There is all the difference in the world between departure from recognised rules by one who has learned to obey them, and neglect of them through want of training or want of skill or want of understanding. Before you can be eccentric you must know where the circle is.

  Ellen Terry

  Skills, Circles, Differences

  Ellen Terry (Dame) (19??). “The story of my life”

  12 Copy quote

• Not until we have learned to be useful can we afford to do what we like.

  Ellen Terry

  Usefulness

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  5 Copy quote

• Before you can be eccentric, you must know where the circle is.

  Ellen Terry

  Circles, Eccentric, Knows

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  21 Copy quote

• Applause is an instinctive, unconscious act expressing the sympathy between actors and audience. Just as our art demands more instinct than intellect in its exercise, so we demand of those who watch us an apppreciation of the simple unconscious kind which finds an outlet in clapping rather than the cold intellectual approval which would self-consciously think applause derogatory. I have yet to meet the actor who was sincere in saying that he disliked applause.

  Ellen Terry

  Art, Exercise, Simple

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  9 Copy quote

• Vary the pace. ... it is one of the foundations of all good acting.

  Ellen Terry

  Acting, Foundation, Pace

  "The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections".

  8 Copy quote

• Conceit is an insuperable obstacle to all progress.

  Ellen Terry

  Conceited, Progress, Obstacles

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  9 Copy quote

• Imagination! Imagination! I put it first years ago, when I was asked what qualities I thought necessary for success on the stage.

  Ellen Terry

  Years, Imagination, Quality

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  5 Copy quote

• Usefulness! It is not a fascinating word, and the quality is not one of which the aspiring spirit can dream o' nights, yet on the stage it is the first thing to aim at.

  Ellen Terry

  Dream, Night, Quality

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  9 Copy quote

• Conceit is an insuperable obstacle to all progress. On the other hand, it is of little use to take criticism in a slavish spirit and to act on it without understanding it.

  Ellen Terry

  Hands, Understanding, Criticism

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  8 Copy quote

• If it is the mark of the artist to love art before everything, to renounce everything for its sake, to think all the sweet human things of life well lost if only he may attain something, do some good, great work, then I was never an artist.

  Ellen Terry

  Sweet, Art, Lost Love

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  6 Copy quote

• The tragedian will always be a limited tragedian if he has not learned how to laugh. The comedian who cannot weep will never touch the highest levels of mirth.

  Ellen Terry

  Laughing, Comedian, Levels

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  5 Copy quote

• The picture of me is nearly finished, and I think it is magnificent. The green and blue of the dress is splendid, and the expression as Lady Macbeth holds the crown over her head is quite wonderful.

  Ellen Terry

  Thinking, Blue, Expression

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  5 Copy quote

• No amount of skill on the part of the actress can make up for the loss of youth.

  Ellen Terry

  Loss, Skills, Actresses

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  5 Copy quote

• Coroners' inquests by learned societies can't make Shakespeare a dead man.

  Ellen Terry

  Men, Theater, Dead Man

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  5 Copy quote

• Eulogy is nice, but one does not learn anything from it.

  Ellen Terry

  Nice, Eulogy, Doe

  Dame Ellen Terry (1908). “The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections”

  7 Copy quote

• Security is mortal's chiefest enemy.

  Ellen Terry

  Confidence, Enemy, Mortals

  5 Copy quote

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