Quotes from Elaine Stritch

Let me tell you about those convents. All that crap about extending the pinkie finger while sipping tea is a myth. Convent schools are breeding grounds for great broads and occasionally one-of-the-boys. Convent schools teach you to play against everything, which is what I'm still doing.

Diabetes is a lousy, lousy disease.

There were a lot of lyrics that I sang but didn't understand. But I had this facade in performance of looking like I wrote the book.

I can't explain chemistry. I really can't. I haven't got a clue what it's all about. It just happens. It's like falling in love. You can't explain why you fall in love or explain why it's this particular person.

These performers that go on about their technique and craft - oh, puleeze! How boring! I don't know what 'technique' means. But I do know what experience is.

What I want to understand is what I am talking about on the stage. What I don't want to understand is what the government is talking about when the government tells me about taxes.

This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.

Isn't this fantastic, what a star I am?

I don't wear a wig. I'd feel terrible onstage with a wig. I hate to be so 'Actors Studio'-ish, but I like to feel it's me out there.

New Yorkers stop me on the street all the time to say, 'You're terrific! You're the nuts!'

And why not do something new every day of your life? Change! Change!

I have not had any of that surgical stuff. I am too curious to find out exactly how I progress every day of my life naturally. That is what fascinates me.

I never found anyone who could look after me as well as I could look after myself.

There's something that really frightens me - and that's fear.

If I see someone saying the rosary in the wings, I know they've got talent.

I think taking care of yourself, health-wise, in every way, is a 100 percent winner.

I don't know what should have happened in my life, but I do know that I'm dancing as fast as I can.

Audiences are not strangers to me. They're the best friends I've got in my life.

I've changed a lot, too! I'm different, too. I have far more in some ways to offer and far less in other ways to offer. That's life. And, you know, life goes on!

Quite frankly I don't know how to be happy. I have not a clue.

All you have to do is say, 'I'm going home,' and you're the most popular girl at the party.

When I want to do something badly enough, I do it, but there is a practical side of me that thinks I should be paid fairly.

There will always be ladies who lunch. Always. And apparently they live a long time.

When you're dealing with your life, my God, you gotta tell the truth.