I never step upon a stage without asking myself whether I will succeed in finishing the opera. The fact is that a conscientious singer is never sure of himself or of anything. He is ever in the hands of Destiny.
Enrico CarusoRead
It is too bad that the public expects from me, always, perfection which it is impossible for me always to attain. I am not a machine. I am a human being.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the unrealistic expectations placed on individuals, highlighting their human imperfections.
Enrico Caruso reflects on the pressures of public life, expressing that there is an inherent conflict between the expectation of perfection and the reality of being a flawed human. He acknowledges that he cannot always meet these lofty standards, reminding us that everyone has limitations and should be treated with understanding and compassion.
Themes
PerfectionHumanExpectationsPressureFlaws
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech addressing overworked employees, one might quote Caruso to emphasize the importance of self-compassion.
More from Enrico Caruso
All quotes →To become a singer requires work, work, and again, work! It need not be in any special corner of the earth; there is no one spot that will do more for you than other places. It doesn't matter so much where you are if you have intelligence and a good ear.
Enrico CarusoRead
It was he who impressed, time and again, the necessity of singing as nature intended, and - I remember - he constantly warned, don't let the public know that you work. So I went slowly. I never forced the voice.
Enrico CarusoRead
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