Anna Deavere Smith quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Anna Deavere Smith on Wise Famous Quotes.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Rhetoric is what shapes history, if not truth.

Rhetoric is what shapes history, if not truth.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Art simply can't be stopped.

Art simply can't be stopped.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Perhaps art is a quest for the perfect, or even the imperfect. Reality always falls short on both sides.

Perhaps art is a quest for the perfect, or even the imperfect. Reality always falls short on both sides.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Discipline - both mental and physical - is crucial.

Discipline - both mental and physical - is crucial.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Movies, as evidenced by a chorus of protesting and celebrating Americans, influence broader trends.

Movies, as evidenced by a chorus of protesting and celebrating Americans, influence broader trends.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Even jealousy is based on fantasies: a fantasy that someone else has what belongs to you.

Even jealousy is based on fantasies: a fantasy that someone else has what belongs to you.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: If you say a word often enough it becomes you.

If you say a word often enough it becomes you.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I think some of our most talented people are not going to pick the arts as a way that they're going to spend their lives.

I think some of our most talented people are not going to pick the arts as a way that they're going to spend their lives.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I would love to have been a documentary filmmaker; I just didn't have the resources to do that.

I would love to have been a documentary filmmaker; I just didn't have the resources to do that.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I am interested in personal stories because that's when people become expressive, spontaneous and heartfelt.

I am interested in personal stories because that's when people become expressive, spontaneous and heartfelt.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: My job in my work is not to acquire power; it's to question power.

My job in my work is not to acquire power; it's to question power.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Identity is an assemblage of constellations.

Identity is an assemblage of constellations.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: There's not a lot of flash about me.

There's not a lot of flash about me.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Friendship is a wildly underrated medication.

Friendship is a wildly underrated medication.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: People who are sick, or who have been sick, or have come close to death have a lot to say - and they want you to hear it.

People who are sick, or who have been sick, or have come close to death have a lot to say - and they want you to hear it.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Suddenly in high school, I'm in a predominantly Jewish atmosphere. Jewish people were my gate to white America.

Suddenly in high school, I'm in a predominantly Jewish atmosphere. Jewish people were my gate to white America.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I mean, I think a healthy country is a country where people are healthy physically, and a smart country is a country where people are educated.

I mean, I think a healthy country is a country where people are healthy physically, and a smart country is a country where people are educated.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: That artists are called to be more responsible and 'true' is a tip of hat to their power.

That artists are called to be more responsible and 'true' is a tip of hat to their power.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Some people study a text very deeply. The people are my text. I study their words and what their words sound like, over and over again.

Some people study a text very deeply. The people are my text. I study their words and what their words sound like, over and over again.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: For me, first of all, I love people, I love ideas.

For me, first of all, I love people, I love ideas.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I am lucky: I have fantastic doctors and a fantastic dentist.

I am lucky: I have fantastic doctors and a fantastic dentist.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Confidence is the mark of a hopeful disposition.

Confidence is the mark of a hopeful disposition.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Over time, my students have gotten richer and more educated.

Over time, my students have gotten richer and more educated.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I feel like my work has been my path to freedom from having grown up in a segregated environment.

I feel like my work has been my path to freedom from having grown up in a segregated environment.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: My main concern is theater, and theater does not reflect or mirror society. It has been stingy and selfish, and it has to do better.

My main concern is theater, and theater does not reflect or mirror society. It has been stingy and selfish, and it has to do better.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I have a lot of optimism about new doctors because I think it's really clear that it's a lot of hard work and no guarantee of a lot of money.

I have a lot of optimism about new doctors because I think it's really clear that it's a lot of hard work and no guarantee of a lot of money.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I see myself first and foremost as a student of expression.

I see myself first and foremost as a student of expression.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Each person has a literature inside them.

Each person has a literature inside them.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: You are an explorer. You understand that every time you go into the studio, you are after something that does not yet exist.

You are an explorer. You understand that every time you go into the studio, you are after something that does not yet exist.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: You know, real artists, we expose our flaws. We long for intimacy.

You know, real artists, we expose our flaws. We long for intimacy.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: We spend so much time bantering about the words when the real open conversations might very well be our actions. I worry about our rhetoric.

We spend so much time bantering about the words when the real open conversations might very well be our actions. I worry about our rhetoric.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: To live your life well, and have respect for what came before or after - there's a strong respect for that in African culture.

To live your life well, and have respect for what came before or after - there's a strong respect for that in African culture.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I call the language of political figures, pundits and administrators 'the haute couture of language.'

I call the language of political figures, pundits and administrators 'the haute couture of language.'

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: You know, interesting minds usually do hold more than one idea at a time.

You know, interesting minds usually do hold more than one idea at a time.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: In my own life I'm frequently in predominantly white atmospheres.

In my own life I'm frequently in predominantly white atmospheres.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: People in power have to be careful about what comes out of their mouth. They have to find exactly the right word that can't be attacked.

People in power have to be careful about what comes out of their mouth. They have to find exactly the right word that can't be attacked.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I see myself as not a typical theater person, but a person who uses the theater as a place to meet people and explore ideas.

I see myself as not a typical theater person, but a person who uses the theater as a place to meet people and explore ideas.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: When you think about it, words can break your heart, or they can change your day.

When you think about it, words can break your heart, or they can change your day.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I have never been in a violent movie or television show.

I have never been in a violent movie or television show.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Making your life is ultimately an extraordinarily creative endeavor.

Making your life is ultimately an extraordinarily creative endeavor.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Learning is a tunnel experience that makes us think more broadly.

Learning is a tunnel experience that makes us think more broadly.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I never know when somebody's going to knock on the door of my own unconscious in a way that I wouldn't have anticipated.

I never know when somebody's going to knock on the door of my own unconscious in a way that I wouldn't have anticipated.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I mean, I think that - as an actress, in particular, I'm basically a fool, and I see the world upside down.

I mean, I think that - as an actress, in particular, I'm basically a fool, and I see the world upside down.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I remember from my father's funeral that the minister kept using a metaphor about life of a prism. And I took that away like a cherished image.

I remember from my father's funeral that the minister kept using a metaphor about life of a prism. And I took that away like a cherished image.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Art should take what is complex and render it simply. It takes a lot of skill, human understanding, stamina, courage, energy, and heart to do that.

Art should take what is complex and render it simply. It takes a lot of skill, human understanding, stamina, courage, energy, and heart to do that.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Poverty makes it very difficult in an already competitive world for kids to get on a straight track where they can actually love learning.

Poverty makes it very difficult in an already competitive world for kids to get on a straight track where they can actually love learning.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I don't talk a lot when I interview. My job is to get out of the way.

I don't talk a lot when I interview. My job is to get out of the way.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Art requires that you make something else exist that is a representation of what your feeling is, or your idea.

Art requires that you make something else exist that is a representation of what your feeling is, or your idea.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I think as a kid I always liked to listen to people. I loved hearing stories.

I think as a kid I always liked to listen to people. I loved hearing stories.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Your desire to communicate must be bigger than your relationship with the chaotic and unfair realities.

Your desire to communicate must be bigger than your relationship with the chaotic and unfair realities.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I think that art is supposed to be ahead of the times.

I think that art is supposed to be ahead of the times.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I'm interested when things are upside down - because there are so many possibilities in that one moment. There is a lot that is exposed.

I'm interested when things are upside down - because there are so many possibilities in that one moment. There is a lot that is exposed.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Probably the person who said the only color in Los Angeles is green was right.

Probably the person who said the only color in Los Angeles is green was right.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I think what I am is a "convener"; I like to convene people around ideas.

I think what I am is a "convener"; I like to convene people around ideas.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: If you think about what acting is supposed to be, my job is to disappear.

If you think about what acting is supposed to be, my job is to disappear.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I am not myself; I am the potential of myself.

I am not myself; I am the potential of myself.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: You know, all kinds of people inspire me.

You know, all kinds of people inspire me.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Not that many people, even contemporary writers, write about right now.

Not that many people, even contemporary writers, write about right now.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: We owe the government taxes. We owe our creditors interest. What do these powers owe us?

We owe the government taxes. We owe our creditors interest. What do these powers owe us?

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: In my profession, I'm around a lot of people whose bodies are their instruments in one way or another.

In my profession, I'm around a lot of people whose bodies are their instruments in one way or another.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: A lot of acting techniques are very self-oriented.

A lot of acting techniques are very self-oriented.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I write plays about big, intense subjects.

I write plays about big, intense subjects.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: Use your time to bathe yourself in the gift. Move your hand across the canvas. Go to museums. Make this into an obsession.

Use your time to bathe yourself in the gift. Move your hand across the canvas. Go to museums. Make this into an obsession.

Anna Deavere Smith quotes: I love studying how people are. Not just what they're saying, but how they are, what they're doing.

I love studying how people are. Not just what they're saying, but how they are, what they're doing.