1.
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.
Elaine Stritch
2.
There will always be ladies who lunch. Always. And apparently they live a long time.
Elaine Stritch
3.
Fear is the base of what everybody does wrong in their lives.
Elaine Stritch
4.
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
5.
It gets tiring being a smartass.
Elaine Stritch
6.
I don't think there's any thrill in the world like doing work you're good at.
Elaine Stritch
7.
This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.
Elaine Stritch
8.
I am not influenced by other human beings. But I am inspired.
Elaine Stritch
9.
Everybody's got a sack of rocks.
Elaine Stritch
10.
If somebody doesn't have any talent, get off the stage! You're wasting my time.
Elaine Stritch
11.
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
12.
As a diabetic, I'm a walking picnic. I have to eat measured amounts of food at certain times.
Elaine Stritch
13.
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
14.
New York is like a disco, but without the music
Elaine Stritch
15.
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.
Elaine Stritch
16.
I love audiences. My God, the best friends in the world!
Elaine Stritch
17.
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
18.
And why not do something new every day of your life? Change! Change!
Elaine Stritch
19.
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.
Elaine Stritch
20.
There's something exciting about being afraid.
Elaine Stritch
21.
Bette Davis taught Hollywood to follow an actress instead of the actress following the camera, and she's probably the best movie actress there's ever been.
Elaine Stritch
22.
I felt that I committed myself too much. I promised too much. But that way it's exciting.
Elaine Stritch
23.
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
24.
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.
Elaine Stritch
25.
You can't be funny unless you're tragic, and you can't be tragic unless you're funny.
Elaine Stritch
26.
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.
Elaine Stritch
27.
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.
Elaine Stritch
28.
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.
Elaine Stritch
29.
Audiences are not strangers to me. They're the best friends I've got in my life.
Elaine Stritch
30.
I don't know what should have happened in my life, but I do know that I'm dancing as fast as I can.
Elaine Stritch
31.
I don't dislike the way I look. I think I look fine. I think I look extraordinary for 88. And I've got energy. Out of my way.
Elaine Stritch
32.
Onstage, nothing is as important as truth, nothing. As soon as you lie, they know it.
Elaine Stritch
33.
I think the most interesting New Yorkers are the people who were not born here.
Elaine Stritch
34.
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.
Elaine Stritch
35.
It's a pain in the ass, show business. And the only time that I really enjoy it is when I'm in front of an audience and they're reacting to me.
Elaine Stritch
36.
I compare Stephen Sondheim with humor, because humor is unanalyzable. You can't analyze humor. You just have to get through it.
Elaine Stritch
37.
Certain type of actresses get younger instead of older. I always say, 'Only ingenues age.'
Elaine Stritch
38.
For me, going to London is like coming home. In fact, I've often entertained the idea of ending my days there.
Elaine Stritch
39.
Betty White is probably a very nice woman.
Elaine Stritch
40.
All you have to do is say, 'I'm going home,' and you're the most popular girl at the party.
Elaine Stritch
41.
All of the writing on '30 Rock' is a joy to go into. It's pretty hot stuff.
Elaine Stritch
42.
Woody Allen is a better actor than anybody from the Actors Studio, and he can be anybody he says he is.
Elaine Stritch
43.
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.
Elaine Stritch
44.
You have to be very, very good looking to get ahead in motion pictures.
Elaine Stritch
45.
I do believe in the infallibility of the Pope, because I think we have to believe in something.
Elaine Stritch
46.
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.
Elaine Stritch
47.
I like to keep active. I've got too much energy not to.
Elaine Stritch
48.
I love reviews. Anybody who tells you they don't read reviews is a liar.
Elaine Stritch
49.
Easy does it is what I'm looking for.
Elaine Stritch
50.
I have no intention of retiring. Even my blood sugar is better when I'm working.
Elaine Stritch