Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Helen Hayes (American Actress)

Helen Hayes MacArthur (1900–93,) née Brown, was an American actress who was one of the most prominent leading ladies of 20th-century theatre. She is widely regarded as the “First Lady of the American Theatre” in recognition of her long and successful career and the elegance and generosity with which she conducted her offstage life.

Born in Washington, D.C., Hayes was the daughter of a touring stage actress and a traveling salesman. She made her Broadway début in 1909 and became one of her generation’s premier stage actresses. She appeared in a wide variety of stage productions, including Dear Brutus (1919,) Victoria Regina (1935–39,) The Wisteria Trees (1951,) and A Touch of the Poet (1958.)

Hayes appeared in such films as The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931, Academy Award, also titled The Lullaby,) A Farewell to Arms (1932,) Airport (1970; Academy Award,) and Candleshoe (1977.) Active until the mid-1980s, she divided her time between film and television work. In 1973, she costarred with Mildred Natwick in the weekly TV series The Snoop Sisters.

Hayes published four autobiographies: A Gift of Joy (1965,) On Reflection (1968,) Twice Over Lightly (1972; with Anita Loos,) and My Life in Three Acts (1991.)

More: Wikipedia READ: Works by Helen Hayes

The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Life and Living

From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover you have wings.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Laughter, Books

The truth is that there is only one terminal dignity—love. And the story of a love is not important—what is important is that one is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Love

Perhaps we have been misguided into taking too much responsibility from our children, leaving them too little room for discovery
Helen Hayes
Topics: Responsibility

Yes, I have doubted. I have wandered off the path. I have been lost. But I always returned. … My faith has wavered but has saved me.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Faith

All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Spring, Gardening

We live in a very tense society. We are pulled apart… and we all need to learn how to pull ourselves together…. I think that at least part of the answer lies in solitude.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Solitude

If you rest, you rust.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Leisure, Rest

Everybody starts at the top, and then has the problem of staying there. Lasting accomplishment, however, is still achieved through a long, slow climb and self-discipline.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Accomplishment, Discipline

We relish news of our heroes, forgetting that we are extraordinary to somebody too.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Heroes/Heroism, Heroes, Heroism

My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that’s nice, too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Achievement, Achieving, Secrets of Success, Accomplishment, Success & Failure

Childhood is a short season.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Childhood

Age is not important unless you’re a cheese.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Aging, Age

When travelling with someone, take large doses of patience and tolerance with your morning coffee
Helen Hayes
Topics: Tolerance

Every human being on this earth is born with a tragedy, and it isn’t original sin. He’s born with the tragedy that he has to grow up. That he has to leave the nest, the security, and go out to do battle. He has to lose everything that is lovely and fight for a new loveliness of his own making, and it’s a tragedy. A lot of people don’t have the courage to do it.
Helen Hayes
Topics: Growth

Wondering Whom to Read Next?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *