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Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith Quotes

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Famous Anna Deavere Smith Quotes

“They say that art should stand the test of time. Life lasts a limited amount of time. Mountains and trees and earth will outlive human beings, but we don't know if they will be here always. Art does outlast the life span of its maker. Art should communicate to an increasing circle of strangers-people who do not know the artist, but come to know the work, and through the work, come to know something about the humanity of the artist that rings with their own humanity.”

PeopleIfsKnowsShouldHumansDoeArtEarthLastsArtistHumanityHuman BeingsTreeAmountMountainTestsCommunicateStrangerRingsCirclesMakersLife SpanTest Of Time
Book:Letters to a Young Artist: Straight-up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts-For Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind
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“Be more than ready. Be present in your discipline. Remember your gift. Be grateful for your gift and treat it like a gift. Cherish it, take care of it, and pass it on.”

CareRememberReadyDisciplineTreatsGratefulTake CarePreparationCherishBe Grateful
Book:Letters to a Young Artist: Straight-up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts-For Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind
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“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.”

ShouldHumansHeartArtEnergyUnderstandingSkillsComplexesSimplicityStamina
Book:Letters to a Young Artist: Straight-up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts-For Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind
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“Confidence is a static state. Determination is active. Determination allows for doubt and for humility - both of which are critical in the world today. There is so much that we don’t know, and so much that we know we don’t know. To be overly confident or without doubt seems silly to me. Determination, on the other hand, is a commitment to win, a commitment to fight the good fight.”

KnowsWorldStatesHandsSeemsTodayFightingWinningDoubtHumilityCommitmentDeterminationCriticalActiveSillyWorld TodayStaticGood FightFight The Good Fight
Book:Letters to a Young Artist: Straight-up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts-For Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind
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“People realize that we're very good at sending people to war, but we're not good at taking care of them. And people are coming back from war now; years ago, they would have been killed, now they're wounded; and they're coming back alive and with post-traumatic stress. So, I think Americans are sensible enough to know we've got to figure out a way to take care of them.”

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Author:Anna Deavere Smith
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“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. When I was a kid, my grandfather said that "if you say a word often enough, it becomes you." Thinking of that later in life gave me this idea that I could try to become America by learning the words of people from many aspects of the country. It doesn't matter how educated they are. By living in the world and living their experiences, they bring extraordinary truths. I try to do those truths justice.”

PeopleThinkingWorldTryingCountryEnoughKidsJusticeStudyExtraordinaryEducatedGrandfatherMy GrandfatherVery Deep
Author:Anna Deavere Smith
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