--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I felt that one of my operas did not…" description: "\"If I felt that one of my operas did not come off I would certainly say so.\" — Carlisle Floyd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/carlisle-floyd-19699_certainly_if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not_800950.jpg" --- # If I felt that one of my operas did not come off I would… ![“If I felt that one of my operas did not come off I would certainly say so.” quote by Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/carlisle-floyd-19699_certainly_if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not_800950.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/carlisle-floyd-19699_certainly_if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not_800950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/carlisle-floyd-19699_certainly_if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not_800950.jpg) > “If I felt that one of my operas did not come off I would certainly say so.” [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging a failed opera requires honesty and humility. **In simple terms:** Admit failure honestly. Key Takeaway Be truthful about artistic shortcomings. Themes honesty humility artistic integrity Mood reflective candid Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre production - personal critique Key Concepts creative process self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle artistic disappointment? - What can be learned from admitting a failure? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera/) [Operas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operas/) ## Related quotes > [Mother Teresa, you could say many things about her, but certainly you would not say she was macho. Anything but.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/mother-teresa-you-could-say-many-things-about-her-but-certainly-you/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I would certainly say that. I don't want to see riots. I don't want to see problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-would-certainly-say-that-i-don-t-want-to-see-riots-i-don-t-want-to/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I have nothing but admiration for the actors on soap operas. It is unbelievably challenging to put out an hour show in one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mary-stewart/i-have-nothing-but-admiration-for-the-actors-on-soap-operas-it-is/) [Catherine Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mary-stewart/) > [Women in Hollywood are tiny, but women in soap operas are the tiniest people alive!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-bowen/women-in-hollywood-are-tiny-but-women-in-soap-operas-are-the-tiniest/) [Julie Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-bowen/) > [Our mistake, you see, was to write interminable large operas, which had to fill an entire evening. And now along comes someone with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-verdi/our-mistake-you-see-was-to-write-interminable-large-operas-which-had/) [Giuseppe Verdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-verdi/) > [I like Strauss's operas because it's all women's voices; I like opera that's hysterical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/i-like-strauss-s-operas-because-it-s-all-women-s-voices-i-like-opera/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > ['Macbeth' is one of the best operas ever, and doing it was a great experience. I added some things to the opera based from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-argento/macbeth-is-one-of-the-best-operas-ever-and-doing-it-was-a-great/) [Dario Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-argento/) > [I do other sorts of things. I act in other people's movies. I direct operas. I write books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-do-other-sorts-of-things-i-act-in-other-people-s-movies-i-direct/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I look for stories that tell transformative, emotional journeys, have big emotional worlds, feel very relevant and true to the times we're living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-heggie/i-look-for-stories-that-tell-transformative-emotional-journeys-have/) [Jake Heggie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-heggie/) > [In my iPod, there are many operas, from A to Z. I have 'Aida' and 'Boheme' and 'Butterfly' and 'Cavalleria'. My passion is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/in-my-ipod-there-are-many-operas-from-a-to-z-i-have-aida-and-boheme/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [I have attended operas, whenever I could not help it, for fourteen years now; I am sure I know of no agony comparable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-attended-operas-whenever-i-could-not-help-it-for-fourteen/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Professionally, I did a couple of operas when I was in school, when I was 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-griffiths/professionally-i-did-a-couple-of-operas-when-i-was-in-school-when-i/) [Lucy Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-griffiths/) > [Growing up, for years and years I had no idea what the plots of operas were, and that's part of what fascinated me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/growing-up-for-years-and-years-i-had-no-idea-what-the-plots-of-operas/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [As any opera fan knows, lawyers and judges do not fare well in most operas. Just consider the productions of 'Andrea Chenier,' 'Aida, Norma,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/as-any-opera-fan-knows-lawyers-and-judges-do-not-fare-well-in-most/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [I conclude that the Wagnerian operas which are already in the repertoire, and other masterworks as well, stand in no further need of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-liszt/i-conclude-that-the-wagnerian-operas-which-are-already-in-the/) [Franz Liszt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-liszt/) ## More by Carlisle Floyd > [We think the Puritans always dressed in black and white, which they didn't. They loved very bright colors. And there were other differences in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/we-think-the-puritans-always-dressed-in-black-and-white-which-they/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [Like any other composer of opera, I choose a subject not for polemical reasons, but because it contains vivid characters in highly charged dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/like-any-other-composer-of-opera-i-choose-a-subject-not-for-polemical/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [It's necessary to track characters all the way through an opera. If you're dealing with more than one or two characters, it's very easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/it-s-necessary-to-track-characters-all-the-way-through-an-opera-if/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [I was encouraged by my mother and, to a lesser extent, by my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/i-was-encouraged-by-my-mother-and-to-a-lesser-extent-by-my-father/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [The artist is something of an outsider in America. I have always felt that America does not value its artists, certainly not in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/the-artist-is-something-of-an-outsider-in-america-i-have-always-felt/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [I think anything that is expressed directly and as honestly as possible will last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/i-think-anything-that-is-expressed-directly-and-as-honestly-as/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [You can't possibly predict what will last or not. But once you attempt to write for the ages, you're doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/you-can-t-possibly-predict-what-will-last-or-not-but-once-you-attempt/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [Socially I never was an outsider. I have never thought of the conflict element before frankly, but perhaps it was wanting to belong, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/socially-i-never-was-an-outsider-i-have-never-thought-of-the-conflict/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [It's amazing how fast generations lose sight of other generations. One of the first things the young composers who come to work with me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/it-s-amazing-how-fast-generations-lose-sight-of-other-generations-one/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [I had all the normal interests - I played basketball and I headed the school paper. But I also developed very early a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/i-had-all-the-normal-interests-i-played-basketball-and-i-headed-the/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [I've never set out consciously to write American music. I don't know what that would be unless the obvious Appalachian folk references.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/i-ve-never-set-out-consciously-to-write-american-music-i-don-t-know/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [When I've seen my operas in Europe, they have always struck me as more American than when I hear them here. I can't tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/when-i-ve-seen-my-operas-in-europe-they-have-always-struck-me-as-more/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [Anyone who creates something new or does something different artistically is going to be singled out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/anyone-who-creates-something-new-or-does-something-different/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [The performances of my works in the last 10 years are probably equal to all the previous years put together. There are so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/the-performances-of-my-works-in-the-last-10-years-are-probably-equal/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) > [What is American music? The most satisfying answer I've come across is that it was a kind of natural comfort with the vernacular which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/what-is-american-music-the-most-satisfying-answer-i-ve-come-across-is/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) [Explore all 32 Carlisle Floyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) ## More Certainly quotes > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. My mother's battled depression, so I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/i-m-certainly-not-a-perfect-mother-but-i-m-trying-to-be-what-my/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [If we can send a guy to the moon we can certainly go a quarter of a mile and not get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-prudhomme/if-we-can-send-a-guy-to-the-moon-we-can-certainly-go-a-quarter-of-a/) Don Prudhomme > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains - if moving mountains accomplishes God's purposes and is in accordance with His will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/righteousness-and-faith-certainly-are-instrumental-in-moving/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Certainly it is not a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-ibrahim/certainly-it-is-not-a-democracy/) [Anwar Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-ibrahim/) > [Spain are certainly one of the best teams in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-trippier/spain-are-certainly-one-of-the-best-teams-in-the-world/) [Kieran Trippier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kieran-trippier/) > [I'm certainly not a white supremacist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stewart/i-m-certainly-not-a-white-supremacist/) [Corey Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stewart/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [Will capitalist economies operate at full employment in the absence of routine intervention? Certainly not. Are deviations from full employment a social problem? Obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/will-capitalist-economies-operate-at-full-employment-in-the-absence/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) Browse all 1,298 Certainly quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I felt that one of my operas did not come off I would certainly say so.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carlisle Floyd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not-come-off-i-would-certainly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certainly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not-come-off-i-would-certainly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/carlisle-floyd-19699_certainly_if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not_800950.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/carlisle-floyd-19699_certainly_if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not_800950.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/carlisle-floyd-19699_certainly_if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not_800950.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I felt that one of my operas did not come off I would certainly say so.” — Carlisle Floyd", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Carlisle Floyd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I felt that one of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not-come-off-i-would-certainly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/if-i-felt-that-one-of-my-operas-did-not-come-off-i-would-certainly/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```