# Quotes about theatre - Quotes: 26 - Authors: 15 - Broader topic: [Quotes about art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.json ## Quotes > “All life is theatre,” he said. “We are all actors, you and I, in a play which nobody wrote and which nobody will see. We have no audience but ourselves....” He laughed gently. “Some players would say that is the best kind of theatre there can be.” [Susan Cooper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cooper.md) · [Silver on the Tree](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cooper/silver-on-the-tree.md) · p. 139 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/susan-cooper/silver-on-the-tree/all-life-is-theatre.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) >  "Absurd" originally means "out of harmony," in a musical context. Hence its dictionary definition: "out of harmony with reason or propriety; incongruous, unreasonable, illogical." In common usage, "absurd" may simply mean "ridiculous," but this is not the sense in which Camus uses the word, and in which it is used when we speak of the Theatre of the Absurd. In an essay on Kafka, Ionesco defined his understanding of the term as follows: "Absurd is that which is devoid of purpose. . . . Cut from his religious, metaphysical, and transcendental roots, man is lost; all his actions become senseless, absurd, useless." [Martin Esslin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/martin-esslin.md) · [The Theatre of the Absurd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/martin-esslin/the-theatre-of-the-absurd.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/martin-esslin/the-theatre-of-the-absurd/absurd-originally-means.md) Topics: [meaning of life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meaning-of-life.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md), [absurdity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/absurdity.md) > For there's a lot of masochism in the acting profession. We're willing to take a lot of punishment, but the minute we hit a little bit of success we are liable to run from it. We're frightened of it and develop all kinds of phobias as a consequence. Outsiders who don't understand think we have a chip on our shoulder, but it's not that at all. We're so used to failure, to being hurt and rebuffed, that we can easily come unhinged by success. [Lucille Ball](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball.md) · [Love, Lucy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball/love-lucy.md) · p. 197 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball/love-lucy/for-theres-a-lot.md) Topics: [success and failure](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/success-and-failure.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > Here's what I advise any young struggling actress today: The important thing is to develop as a woman first, and a performer second. You wouldn't prostitute yourself to get a part, not if you're in the right mind. You won't be happy, whatever you do, unless you're comfortable with your own conscience. [Lucille Ball](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball.md) · [Love, Lucy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball/love-lucy.md) · p. 42 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball/love-lucy/heres-what-i-advise.md) Topics: [conscience](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conscience.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > It is a hopeless endeavour to attract people to a theatre unless they can be first brought to believe that they will never get in. [Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/nicholas-nickleby.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/nicholas-nickleby/it-is-a-hopeless.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > Comedy is a game played to throw reflections upon social life, and it deals with human nature in the drawing-room of civilized men and women, where we have no dust of the struggling outer world, no mire, no violent crashes, to make the correctness of the representation convincing. [George Meredith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-meredith.md) · [The Egoist](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-meredith/the-egoist.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-meredith/the-egoist/comedy-is-a-game.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/society.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > She simply has no concept of what’s real and what’s fantasy—did I say? She’s in the theater. [Samuel R. Delany](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany.md) · [Triton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/triton.md) · p. 322 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/triton/she-simply-has.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > And who’s to say where life ceases and theater begins— [Samuel R. Delany](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany.md) · [Triton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/triton.md) · p. 113 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/triton/and-whos-to-say.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > Drama assumes an order. If only so that it might have — by disrupting that order — a way of surprising. [Václav Havel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vaclav-havel.md) · [Disturbing the Peace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vaclav-havel/disturbing-the-peace.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vaclav-havel/disturbing-the-peace/drama-assumes-an-order.md) Topics: [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > I think theatre should always be somewhat suspect. [Václav Havel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vaclav-havel.md) · [Disturbing the Peace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vaclav-havel/disturbing-the-peace.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vaclav-havel/disturbing-the-peace/i-think-theatre.md) Topics: [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > SAM: Isn’t this a circus...of sorts? > > MENDEL: No. It’s theater. There is a difference. > > SAM: Really? What is it? > > MENDEL: A circus employs only clowns. > > SAM: So does the theater. [Elie Wiesel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elie-wiesel.md) · [The Trial of God](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elie-wiesel/the-trial-of-god.md) · p. 120 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elie-wiesel/the-trial-of-god/sam-isnt-this.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > MENDEL: What shall we play? > > BERISH: Can I choose? > > MENDEL: Of course; it’s your theater. > > MARIA: Long live theater...What’s theater? > > BERISH: When you do something without doing it, when you say something without saying it, while thinking that you did say, and you did do something—anything—that’s theater. [Elie Wiesel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elie-wiesel.md) · [The Trial of God](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elie-wiesel/the-trial-of-god.md) · p. 38 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elie-wiesel/the-trial-of-god/mendel-what-shall.md) Topics: [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > Those who say a demonstration should be concerned with education rather than theater don't understand either and will never organize a successful demonstration, or for that matter, a successful revolution. [Abbie Hoffman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abbie-hoffman.md) · [Steal This Book](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abbie-hoffman/steal-this-book.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abbie-hoffman/steal-this-book/those-who-say.md) Topics: [revolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/revolution.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > She did not want to act. Everyday life was enough. But she did enjoy the world of the theater. This was a new way of getting at people and changing their values, less wearing than the direct approach of politics, more entertaining, and perhaps in some ways even more effective. Theater in Odessa was powerful; movies were a dead art, the constant incessant oversaturation of screen images had made all images equally boring; what the citizens of Odessa seemed to like was the immediacy and danger of spontaneous performance, the moment that would never return, never be the same. [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson.md) · [Blue Mars](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson/blue-mars.md) · p. 612 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson/blue-mars/she-did-not.md) Topics: [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > There are no great performances without great audiences, and this is the barrier that film and television, by their utmost efforts, cannot cross, for there can be no interaction between what is done, and those to whom it is done. Great theatre, great music-drama, is created again and again on both sides of the footlights. [Robertson Davies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies.md) · [The Cornish Trilogy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-cornish-trilogy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-cornish-trilogy/there-are-no-great.md) Topics: [art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > Milady said that with the Bible and Shakespeare it was better to be a little cool, rather than too hot; the meaning emerged more powerfully. "Listen to Sir John," she said, "and you'll find that he never pushes a line as far as it will go." That was how I learned about never doing your damnedest; your next-to-damnedest was far better. [Robertson Davies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies.md) · [The Deptford Trilogy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-deptford-trilogy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-deptford-trilogy/milady-said-that.md) Topics: [moderation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/moderation.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > I keep my mind on it. That's the whole trick, in so far as stage experience goes; keeping right there every second. If I think of anything else for a flash, I'm gone, done for. But at the same time, one can take things in — with another part of your brain, maybe. It's different from what you get in study, more practical and conclusive. There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm. You learn the delivery of a part only before an audience. [Willa Cather](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather.md) · [The Song Of The Lark](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather/the-song-of-the-lark.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather/the-song-of-the-lark/i-keep-my-mind.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > The theater needs continual reminders that there is nothing more debasing than the work of those who do well what is not worth doing at all. [Gore Vidal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal.md) · [Homage to Daniel Shays](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal/homage-to-daniel-shays.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal/homage-to-daniel-shays/the-theater-needs.md) Topics: [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > It was like one of those comedies where the sets are good and the clothes pretty, where the dialogue is clever and the acting competent, so that you pass an agreeable evening, but a week later cannot remember a thing about it. [William Somerset Maugham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham.md) · [Christmas Holiday](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/christmas-holiday.md) · p. 203 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/christmas-holiday/it-was-like.md) Topics: [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md), [forgetting](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/forgetting.md) > There is one thing that appreciably eases the strain for the plays that arrive at this time of year, and that is that practically nothing is expected of them. p. 306 [Dorothy Parker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker.md) · [Dorothy Parker: Poems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems/there-is-one-thing.md) Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md), [waiting](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/waiting.md) > Sinbad is produced in accordance with the fine old Shubert precept that nothing succeeds like undress. p. 6 [Dorothy Parker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker.md) · [Dorothy Parker: Poems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems/sinbad-is-produced.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > In short, there is everything about this season's entertainment to make the Hippodrome what it always is—a Temple of the Arts to all those who hang pennants on their automobiles, use “Shake hands with my friend” as a formula for introduction, and sprinkle powdered sugar on their sliced tomatoes. p. 106 [Dorothy Parker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker.md) · [Dorothy Parker: Poems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems/in-short-there.md) Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > If you arrive late, you won't know what anything is about, and if you are there all the way from the beginning, you won't care. p. 277 [Dorothy Parker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker.md) · [Dorothy Parker: Poems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems/if-you-arrive.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [criticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/criticism.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > The management's method of procedure is evidently to hire some well-known man to write the book, and then, as soon as it is written, to give it away to some deserving family, and go out and engage an assortment of specialty acts. p. 151 [Dorothy Parker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker.md) · [Dorothy Parker: Poems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems/the-managements-method.md) Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [criticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/criticism.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > It is advertised as “a seagoin’ comedy,” and anytime they go leaving off the final g that way, you know what to expect. p. 324 [Dorothy Parker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker.md) · [Dorothy Parker: Poems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems/it-is-advertised.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [criticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/criticism.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md) > This use of soldiers to make a play popular seems too much like taking an unfair advantage of the uniform—hitting below the Sam Browne belt, as it were. p. 93 [Dorothy Parker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker.md) · [Dorothy Parker: Poems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorothy-parker/dorothy-parker-poems/this-use-of-soldiers.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [soldiers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/soldiers.md), [theatre](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/theatre.md)