Stella Adler

"The theatre was created to tell people the truth about life and the social situation."

"In your choices lies your talent."

"It takes three things to make it in this business: the tenacity of a bulldog, the hide of a rhinoceros and a good home to come home to."

"Acting requires a creative and compassionate attitude. It must aim to lift life up to a higher level of meaning and not tear it down or demean it. The actors search is a generous quest for that larger meaning. Thats why acting is never to be done passively."

"The teacher has to inspire, to agitate. You cannot teach acting. You can only stimulate whats already there."

"Your talent is in your imagination. The rest is lice."

"Get a stage tone, darling, an energy. Never go on stage without your motor running."

"Use your creative imagination to create a past that belongs to your character. I dont want you to be stuck with your own life. Its too little."

"You must get away from the real thing because the real thing will limit your acting and cripple you. To think of your own mothers death each time you want to cry onstage is schizophrenic and sick."

"You cant be boring. Life is boring. The weather is boring. Actors must not be boring."