Acting is not a state of being ... but a state of appearing to be. You can't be eight times a week without going stark staring mad. You've got to be in control.
Noel CowardRead
What I adore is supreme professionalism. I’m bored by writers who can write only when it’s raining.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Supreme professionalism is valuing consistent effort over reliance on ideal conditions.
In this quote, Noel Coward emphasizes the importance of professionalism and dedication in the craft of writing. He suggests that true artists should be able to create regardless of their circumstances, and that a reliance on perfect conditions—symbolized by the metaphor of it 'raining'—is a sign of weakness rather than strength in creativity.
Themes
ProfessionalismCreativityDedicationWritingEffort
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could inspire writers at a workshop to embrace their craft even in challenging times.
More from Noel Coward
All quotes →I don't believe in astrology. The only stars I can blame for my failures are those that walk about the stage.
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Goodnight, my darlings, I'll see you tomorrow.
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It's no use to go and take courses in playwriting any more than it's much use taking courses in acting. Better play to a bad matinée in Hull, it will teach you much more than a year of careful instruction.
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But why, oh why, do the wrong people travel, when the right people stay at home?
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Never mind, dear, we're all made the same, though some more than others.
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