black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

One of my first role models was Eugene Lang, a wealthy businessman who went back to his elementary school in East Harlem and addressed the sixth-grade class. He looked out at that sea of faces and said, “If any of you wants to go to college, I will pay for it.”

Bette Midler

Marriage is such hard work. And it’s full of rage and real human drama.
BETTE MIDLER

Drama Hard Work Real
My parents have not insisted that we go to college, but she wanted us to learn. Teacher, librarian, secretary, nurse. All my siblings were employed. But I wanted to be the boss, an independent contractor.
BETTE MIDLER

Independent Sibling Teacher
We’re all divine, but I was the only one who had the nerve to call myself that.
BETTE MIDLER

Divine Myself Nerves
A lot of people started drinking martinis and smoking cigarettes because they felt it was cool.
BETTE MIDLER

Cigarettes Cool Smoking
Music is probably the only place I get energy from. Music and maybe watching a really tremendous performer, watching a terrific performer like Jagger or watching a great movie.
BETTE MIDLER

Energy Music Performers
The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then you have a great career.
BETTE MIDLER

Careers People Want
If I don’t feel right about what I’m in, I don’t feel right about anything.
BETTE MIDLER

Anything Clothes Feels Right
That’s the Oscars for ya – you remember who was nominated, but you don’t remember who won!
BETTE MIDLER

Nominate Oscar Remember
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed.
BETTE MIDLER

Broken Heart Love Soul
If somebody makes me laugh, I’m his slave for life.
BETTE MIDLER

Laugh Laughing Slave
Culturally, it’s very hard to change people’s attitudes about public space.
BETTE MIDLER

Attitude People Space
If they [at the audition] don’t like the way you sound they won’t buy you anyway, ripped dress or no ripped dress, ass hanging out or no ass hanging out.
BETTE MIDLER

Dresses Sound Way
Everyone goes through their winters and springs, and their summers and autumns.
BETTE MIDLER

Autumn Spring Summer
Writing a book is not as tough as it is to haul thirty-five people around the country and sweat like a horse five nights a week.
BETTE MIDLER

Book Country Horse
I’d make a wonderful Lady Macbeth. I’ll wear a pair of platform shoes or something.
BETTE MIDLER

Lady Macbeth Pairs Shoes
You have to be alert. When my daughter, Sophie, came out of the womb, she was instantly alert, as if she had been here before. And she was a little disappointed that she was here again.
BETTE MIDLER

Daughter Littles Sophie
Just because people don’t meet you doesn’t mean they’re not out there breaking their asses trying to get around.
BETTE MIDLER

Mean People Trying
Only two groups of people intimidate me absolutely: salespeople and the French.
BETTE MIDLER

Groups People Two
People have an obligation to live up to their potential.
BETTE MIDLER

Obligation People Potential
I decided years ago not to read stories about myself anymore. Each one is a potential minefield: Whatever it says, you’re bound to take it the wrong way. Why do it if you know it’s going to make you miserable?
BETTE MIDLER

Stories Way Years
I had no idea of being a star, all I knew was that I wanted to be a great actress, I wanted to work as an actress. So I thought the way I would be a great actress was to sing and dance first.
BETTE MIDLER

Doors Ideas Stars
When the movies first started, audiences were dumbstruck to see actresses walking around in evening gowns. They’d never seen anything like that. They wanted to be like those actors and actresses, so the movies informed their behavior.
BETTE MIDLER

Drinking People Smoking
I bear no grudges. I have a mind that retains nothing.
BETTE MIDLER

Bears Grudge Mind
Sometimes, when I wake up, my soul is in another city!
BETTE MIDLER

Cities Sometimes Soul Wake
I hope to keep entertaining in some way until I can’t physically entertain any longer. It’s what I was born to do, and I love this profession.
BETTE MIDLER

Born Entertaining Way
Sold my soul. Bought these devil chains.
BETTE MIDLER

Chain Devil Soul
There comes a time whenyou haveto let yourclothesgo out in the world and try to make it on their own.
BETTE MIDLER

Time Trying World

One of my first role models was Eugene Lang, a wealthy businessman who went back to his elementary school in East Harlem and addressed the sixth-grade class. He looked out at that sea of faces and said, “If any of you wants to go to college, I will pay for it.”

Related Topics

Popular Authors

One of my first role models was Eugene Lang, a wealthy businessman who went back to his elementary school in East Harlem and addressed the sixth-grade class. He looked out at that sea of faces and said, “If any of you wants to go to college, I will pay for it.”

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Bette Midler Quotes