I call the language of political figures, pundits and administrators "the haute couture of language." Anna Deavere Smith More Quotes by Anna Deavere Smith More Quotes From Anna Deavere Smith People who are sick, or who have been sick, or have come close to death have a lot to say - and they want you to hear it. Anna Deavere Smith sickwantpeople Your desire to communicate must be bigger than your relationship with the chaotic and unfair realities. Anna Deavere Smith communicationdesirereality Listening is not just hearing what someone tells you word for word. You have to listen with a heart. I don't want that to sound touchy-feely; it is not. It is very hard work. Anna Deavere Smith hard-worklisteningheart That artists are called to be more responsible and 'true' is a tip of hat to their power. Anna Deavere Smith hatsresponsibleartist Perhaps art is a quest for the perfect, or even the imperfect. Reality always falls short on both sides. Anna Deavere Smith realityartfall My main concern is theater, and theater does not reflect or mirror society. It has been stingy and selfish, and it has to do better. Anna Deavere Smith selfishmirrorsdoe You are an explorer. You understand that every time you go into the studio, you are after something that does not yet exist. Anna Deavere Smith explorersexplorationdoe 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. Anna Deavere Smith circlespeopleart My work is about giving voice to the unheard, and reiterating the voice of the heard in such a way that you question, or re-examine, what is the truth. Anna Deavere Smith voicegivingway You've heard that old expression from Shakespeare, 'Just speak the speech'? The words themselves will take you to the reality of the character. And so this led me to interview people. Anna Deavere Smith expressioncharacterreality We who are in the arts are at the risk of being in a popularity contest rather than a profession. If that fact causes you despair . . . pick another profession. Your desire to communicate must be bigger than your relationship with the chaotic and unfair realities . . . We have to create our own standards of discipline. Anna Deavere Smith disciplinerealityart 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. Anna Deavere Smith countrykidsthinking I happen to be a hopeaholic. I tend to look at problems as an opportunity to do some work. Anna Deavere Smith problemopportunitylooks I think what I am is a "convener"; I like to convene people around ideas. Anna Deavere Smith peopleideasthinking Art simply can’t be stopped. Anna Deavere Smith art Discipline — both mental and physical — is crucial. Anna Deavere Smith crucialdiscipline Learning is a tunnel experience that makes us think more broadly. Anna Deavere Smith tunnelsthinking Somehow we can't live outside the politics of race. There's something very deep in all of us, that is taught to us when we are very, very little. Which is the disrespect and fear of the other. Anna Deavere Smith disrespectracelittles Movies, as evidenced by a chorus of protesting and celebrating Americans, influence broader trends. Anna Deavere Smith celebratetrendsinfluence I mean, I think that - as an actress, in particular, I'm basically a fool, and I see the world upside down. Anna Deavere Smith meanworldthinking
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