--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would much rather watch myself than…" description: "\"I would much rather watch myself than listen to myself. The moving is second nature, but the listening... that's the art.\" — Bette Midler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/bette-midler-1976_art_i-would-much-rather-watch-myself-than-li_1265005.jpg" --- # I would much rather watch myself than listen to myself… ![“I would much rather watch myself than listen to myself. The moving is second nature, but the listening... that's the art.” quote by Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/bette-midler-1976_art_i-would-much-rather-watch-myself-than-li_1265005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/bette-midler-1976_art_i-would-much-rather-watch-myself-than-li_1265005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/bette-midler-1976_art_i-would-much-rather-watch-myself-than-li_1265005.jpg) > “I would much rather watch myself than listen to myself. The moving is second nature, but the listening... that's the art.” [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing oneself is more revealing than hearing one's own words; action feels natural, listening requires skill. **In simple terms:** Seeing yourself is clearer than hearing yourself. Key Takeaway Practice mindful listening to your actions. Themes self-awareness reflection performance Mood introspective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - personal growth - creative work Key Concepts mindfulness art of listening Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve listening to your own behavior? - What habits reveal your true self? A Different Perspective Listening can be biased by self-judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [“This listening is the art of meditation,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-s-goldsmith/this-listening-is-the-art-of-meditation/) [Joel S. Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-s-goldsmith/) > [Listening is an art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/listening-is-an-art/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [“This listening is the art of meditation, in the learning of which we come to a place of transition where truth leaves the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-s-goldsmith/this-listening-is-the-art-of-meditation-in-the-learning-of-which-we/) [Joel S. Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-s-goldsmith/) > [Watch, listen and learn. You can't know it all yourself. Anyone who thinks they do is destined for mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/watch-listen-and-learn-you-can-t-know-it-all-yourself-anyone-who/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“I watch but I can’t see. I listen but I can’t hear. I breathe but my heart doesn’t beat. I live but I remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mcheyzer/i-watch-but-i-can-t-see-i-listen-but-i-can-t-hear-i-breathe-but-my/) [Margaret McHeyzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mcheyzer/) > [I think people need to guard themselves in what they watch and what they listen to because I think that does affect who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colton-dixon/i-think-people-need-to-guard-themselves-in-what-they-watch-and-what/) [Colton Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colton-dixon/) > [You really do kind of learn a lot about a person when you watch and listen to the songs that mean something to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/you-really-do-kind-of-learn-a-lot-about-a-person-when-you-watch-and/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I'm probably not one of the more vocal people around, but I do watch, I do listen and I try to learn from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcdermott/i-m-probably-not-one-of-the-more-vocal-people-around-but-i-do-watch-i/) [Sean McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcdermott/) > [“Most people will give you the means to persuade them if you watch and listen carefully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-diamond/most-people-will-give-you-the-means-to-persuade-them-if-you-watch-and/) [Stuart Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-diamond/) > [People watch what you do more than listen to what you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/people-watch-what-you-do-more-than-listen-to-what-you-say/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“For a long time I though that one had to accomplish something Now I just watch listen receive Live”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to-accomplish-something-now-i/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-made-a-pact-with-myself-a-long-time-ago-never-watch-anything/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Don't listen to other people, because their words don't define you and who you are!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-listen-to-other-people-because-their-words-don-t-define-you-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listen to everyone & learn from everyone because nobody knows everything but everyone know someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/listen-to-everyone-learn-from-everyone-because-nobody-knows/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) ## More by Bette Midler > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I firmly believe that with the right footwear one can rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-firmly-believe-that-with-the-right-footwear-one-can-rule-the-world/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I read neither good nor bad about me. I let it not even in my life, so it has no effect on me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-read-neither-good-nor-bad-about-me-i-let-it-not-even-in-my-life-so/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-they-at-the-audition-don-t-like-the-way-you-sound-they-won-t-buy/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-heart-afraid-of-breaking-that-never-learns-to-dance-it-is/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-made-a-pact-with-myself-a-long-time-ago-never-watch-anything/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-one-who-won-t-be-taken-that-cannot-seem-to-give-and-the-soul/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Culturally, it's very hard to change people's attitudes about public space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/culturally-it-s-very-hard-to-change-people-s-attitudes-about-public/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [As you age, feelings do diminish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/as-you-age-feelings-do-diminish/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-decided-years-ago-not-to-read-stories-about-myself-anymore-each-one/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Sometimes my brain goes on CD shuffle. You know, you put a bunch of CD's on and hit play and random things come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/sometimes-my-brain-goes-on-cd-shuffle-you-know-you-put-a-bunch-of-cd/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I come from an overly confident place. But I'm overconfident because of feelings of inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-come-from-an-overly-confident-place-but-i-m-overconfident-because/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/my-idea-of-superwoman-is-someone-who-scrubs-her-own-floors/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) [Explore all 193 Bette Midler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would much rather watch myself than listen to myself. 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