Helen Hayes: Quotes about life

Helen Hayes was actress. Explore interesting quotes on life.

Helen Hayes: 40 quotes3 likes

“The good die young — but not always. The wicked prevail — but not consistently. I am confused by life, and I feel safe within the confines of the theatre. O'Neil's dramas are slapstick farces, Albee's riddles are simple explanations, Pinter's threatening and threatened anti-heroes are innocent babes — next to life and the living.
I cry out for order and find it only in art.”

Source: On Reflection (1968), Ch. 14

“We are indeed a strange lot! There are times we doubt that we have any emotions we can honestly call our own. I have approached every dynamic scene change in my life the same way. When I married Charlie MacArthur, I sat down and wondered how I could play the best wife that ever was…. My love for him was the truest thing in my life; but it was still important that I love him with proper effect, that I act loving him with great style, that I achieve the ultimate in wifedom.”

Thoughts on actors, Ch. 1
On Reflection (1968)

“An actress always knows when she’s hit it and mostly you haven’t; but once or twice I think I hit it right, so maybe that’s good enough for one life.”

The Times (19 December 1984)

“The worst constructed play is a Bach fugue when compared to life.”

Source: On Reflection (1968), Ch. 14