--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Onstage, nothing is as important as…" description: "\"Onstage, nothing is as important as truth, nothing. As soon as you lie, they know it.\" — Elaine Stritch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/elaine-stritch-6601_important_onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth_1443572.jpg" --- # Onstage, nothing is as important as truth, nothing. As… ![“Onstage, nothing is as important as truth, nothing. As soon as you lie, they know it.” quote by Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/elaine-stritch-6601_important_onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth_1443572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/elaine-stritch-6601_important_onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth_1443572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/elaine-stritch-6601_important_onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth_1443572.jpg) > “Onstage, nothing is as important as truth, nothing. As soon as you lie, they know it.” [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth is paramount on stage; any falsehood is instantly apparent to the audience. **In simple terms:** Truth on stage is essential; lies are obvious. Key Takeaway Always be honest in performance. Themes integrity performance authenticity Mood serious reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - stage acting - public speaking - live broadcasting Key Concepts theatre communication trust Questions to Reflect On - How do you recover after a slip? - What safeguards can you build? A Different Perspective Even truth can be twisted by audience perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [When you're onstage, it's important to try and feel some type of therapy in getting the material out, because then you don't leave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/when-you-re-onstage-it-s-important-to-try-and-feel-some-type-of/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [When you're doing a play, you're onstage, there's no stopping or starting, there's no stopping to reposition for the camera or have a check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/when-you-re-doing-a-play-you-re-onstage-there-s-no-stopping-or/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [Tell the truth as soon as you know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/tell-the-truth-as-soon-as-you-know-it/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [You cannot tell an audience a lie. They know it before you do; before it's out of your mouth, they know it's a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/you-cannot-tell-an-audience-a-lie-they-know-it-before-you-do-before/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [With the truth, all given facts harmonize; but with what is false, the truth soon hits a wrong note.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/with-the-truth-all-given-facts-harmonize-but-with-what-is-false-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“It was too late for the truth – and too soon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brynn-kelly/it-was-too-late-for-the-truth-and-too-soon/) [Brynn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brynn-kelly/) > [“Most tales carry a kernel of truth, else they're soon forgotten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-azinger/most-tales-carry-a-kernel-of-truth-else-they-re-soon-forgotten/) [Karen Azinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-azinger/) > [I Hate When People Lie To Me When I Already Know the Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narissa-demery/i-hate-when-people-lie-to-me-when-i-already-know-the-truth/) [NaRissa Demery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narissa-demery/) > [Why lie to me when I know the whole truth..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-sandoval/why-lie-to-me-when-i-know-the-whole-truth/) Melissa Sandoval > [I love listening lie, when I know the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-h/i-love-listening-lie-when-i-know-the-truth/) [Miranda H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-h/) > [I don't want to die out here in the valley. You don't have to lie, I know that's what I'll do. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixx-am/i-don-t-want-to-die-out-here-in-the-valley-you-don-t-have-to-lie-i/) Sixx AM > [I'm not in a position to tell anyone anything about how to live his or her life, but I think it's worth noting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hanff-korelitz/i-m-not-in-a-position-to-tell-anyone-anything-about-how-to-live-his/) [Jean Hanff Korelitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hanff-korelitz/) > [“They lie, you know. It's not easier to ask for forgiveness. Not even a little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/they-lie-you-know-it-s-not-easier-to-ask-for-forgiveness-not-even-a/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [Never waste a lie; you never know when you may need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/never-waste-a-lie-you-never-know-when-you-may-need-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I like to lie sometimes. You should know that about me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-leavitt/i-like-to-lie-sometimes-you-should-know-that-about-me/) [Lindsey Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-leavitt/) ## More by Elaine Stritch > [I have no intention of retiring. Even my blood sugar is better when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-even-my-blood-sugar-is-better-when-i/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I don't think there's any thrill in the world like doing work you're good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-thrill-in-the-world-like-doing-work-you-re/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-find-it-easier-to-abstain-than-do-a-little-bit-of-anything-i-m-not/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I like being talked about. I think some people really don't... because they're secure enough and they don't need that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-like-being-talked-about-i-think-some-people-really-don-t-because/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [Let me tell you about those convents. All that crap about extending the pinkie finger while sipping tea is a myth. Convent schools are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/let-me-tell-you-about-those-convents-all-that-crap-about-extending/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I'm a hotel baby, absolutely: it's hard to think of a hotel I haven't stayed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-m-a-hotel-baby-absolutely-it-s-hard-to-think-of-a-hotel-i-haven-t/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [If somebody doesn't have any talent, get off the stage! You're wasting my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/if-somebody-doesn-t-have-any-talent-get-off-the-stage-you-re-wasting/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I felt that I committed myself too much. I promised too much. But that way it's exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-felt-that-i-committed-myself-too-much-i-promised-too-much-but-that/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I love holidays in New York. I love 'em. I want to celebrate something all the time and New York has holidays for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-love-holidays-in-new-york-i-love-em-i-want-to-celebrate-something/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [There will always be ladies who lunch. Always. And apparently they live a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/there-will-always-be-ladies-who-lunch-always-and-apparently-they-live/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I do believe in the infallibility of the Pope, because I think we have to believe in something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-do-believe-in-the-infallibility-of-the-pope-because-i-think-we-have/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [The closer a part is to you, the harder it is to play. Anything else is just imitation. If I'm playing a Russian countess,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/the-closer-a-part-is-to-you-the-harder-it-is-to-play-anything-else-is/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [The people in New York - their humor is on a level that goes, uh, very deep, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/the-people-in-new-york-their-humor-is-on-a-level-that-goes-uh-very/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [When I want to do something badly enough, I do it, but there is a practical side of me that thinks I should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/when-i-want-to-do-something-badly-enough-i-do-it-but-there-is-a/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) [Explore all 98 Elaine Stritch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) ## More Important quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [If I had learned how to get along in the quotidian world while keeping up the search for the hidden realm, I might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/if-i-had-learned-how-to-get-along-in-the-quotidian-world-while/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [Modeling is more important than the talking we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-williams/modeling-is-more-important-than-the-talking-we-do/) Wayne Williams > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) Browse all 30,993 Important quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Onstage, nothing is as important as truth, nothing. As soon as you lie, they know it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elaine Stritch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth-nothing-as-soon-as-you-lie/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Important" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth-nothing-as-soon-as-you-lie/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/elaine-stritch-6601_important_onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth_1443572.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/elaine-stritch-6601_important_onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth_1443572.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/elaine-stritch-6601_important_onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth_1443572.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Onstage, nothing is as important as truth, nothing. As soon as you lie, they know it.” — Elaine Stritch", "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": "Elaine Stritch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Onstage, nothing is as important as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth-nothing-as-soon-as-you-lie/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/onstage-nothing-is-as-important-as-truth-nothing-as-soon-as-you-lie/#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 } } ] } ```