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As a child, I was taught that it was bad manners to bring attention to yourself, and to never, ever make a spectacle of yourself ... All of which I've earned a living doing.
Audrey Hepburn
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects the irony of societal norms and personal success in performance and creativity.

Audrey Hepburn highlights the contradiction between the lessons of humility and the demands of her profession as an actress. While she was taught to avoid drawing attention to herself, her career inherently involved making spectacles for an audience, illustrating how one's upbringing can conflict with their chosen path in life.

Themes

Audrey HepburnSpectacleActingHumilityPerformance

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can inspire artists to embrace their unique talents despite societal expectations.

More from Audrey Hepburn

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
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True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
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On the one hand maybe I’ve remained infantile, while on the other I matured quickly, because at a young age I was very aware of suffering and fear.
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This is what you do on your very first day in Paris. You get yourself, not a drizzle, but some honest-to-goodness rain, and you find yourself someone really nice and drive her through the Bois de Boulogne in a taxi. The rain's very important. That's when Paris smells its sweetest. It's the damp chestnut trees.
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I speak for those children who cannot speak for themselves, children who have absolutely nothing but their courage and their smiles, their wits and their dreams.
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Quote by Audrey Hepburn | QuoteProject