--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can never remember being afraid of an…" description: "\"I can never remember being afraid of an audience. If the audience could do better, they'd be up here on stage and I'd be out there watching them.\" — Et..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/ethel-merman-11612_afraid_i-can-never-remember-being-afraid-of-an_1636661.png" --- # I can never remember being afraid of an audience. If the… ![“I can never remember being afraid of an audience. If the audience could do better, they'd be up here on stage and I'd be out there watching them.” quote by Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/ethel-merman-11612_afraid_i-can-never-remember-being-afraid-of-an_1636661.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/ethel-merman-11612_afraid_i-can-never-remember-being-afraid-of-an_1636661.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/ethel-merman-11612_afraid_i-can-never-remember-being-afraid-of-an_1636661.png) > “I can never remember being afraid of an audience. If the audience could do better, they'd be up here on stage and I'd be out there watching them.” [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker never feared audiences; they feel audiences should be better, implying confidence and high standards. **In simple terms:** Never feared audiences; expect high standards. Key Takeaway Maintain confidence and set high expectations. Themes confidence performance audience standards Mood confident assertive Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - stage performance - public speaking - self‑assessment - career development Key Concepts theatre studies psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle audience criticism? - What drives your confidence? A Different Perspective High expectations may cause anxiety for others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-audience-532389/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-better-532390/) [Being afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-afraid/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-afraid-532391/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I don't remember being afraid of anything in making films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-denis/i-don-t-remember-being-afraid-of-anything-in-making-films/) [Claire Denis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-denis/) > [“You're afraid of the audience, aren't you?" "Yes, but it's not stagefright. It's that I'm there as the geek. They like to watch me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/you-re-afraid-of-the-audience-aren-t-you-yes-but-it-s-not-stagefright/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [The next time I write a play - in order to get audience trust for a particular sort of tragic line, I'll try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/the-next-time-i-write-a-play-in-order-to-get-audience-trust-for-a/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) > [The danger with success in television is "Haven't we shot this episode before? Didn't we shoot this scene two years ago?" I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/the-danger-with-success-in-television-is-haven-t-we-shot-this-episode/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [Financing films that are demanding is a task, in itself. Because people are so afraid of taking any kind of chance, because they're afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/financing-films-that-are-demanding-is-a-task-in-itself-because-people/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [“Until you can, remember this. We are always more afraid than we wish to be, but we can always be braver than we expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/until-you-can-remember-this-we-are-always-more-afraid-than-we-wish-to/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [Remember that all the others are more afraid than you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/remember-that-all-the-others-are-more-afraid-than-you/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I really loved making 'A Walk to Remember', so I'm not afraid of making smaller films. But for me, I just need to connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-really-loved-making-a-walk-to-remember-so-i-m-not-afraid-of-making/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [I remember always being afraid of the chefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-remember-always-being-afraid-of-the-chefs/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [“If you can create something useful, its reachable audience (e.g., employers or customers) is essentially limitless—which greatly magnifies your reward. On the other hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/if-you-can-create-something-useful-its-reachable-audience-e-g/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [I want everyone to feel as much as possible as if they inhabit the same space. They more fluid the relationship between actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-jones/i-want-everyone-to-feel-as-much-as-possible-as-if-they-inhabit-the/) [Christine Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-jones/) > [What you must understand is that my voice comes from the energy of the audience. The better they are, the better I get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/what-you-must-understand-is-that-my-voice-comes-from-the-energy-of/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [Somewhat predictably, I'm much more comfortable in front of an audience - and a big audience is even better - than faced with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/somewhat-predictably-i-m-much-more-comfortable-in-front-of-an/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [The larger the audience the better. The more pockets in the world, the more interesting and exciting because it just makes it that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/the-larger-the-audience-the-better-the-more-pockets-in-the-world-the/) [Aishwarya Rai Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/) > [I think the sooner you take responsibility for what reaction you want to get out of an audience, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-think-the-sooner-you-take-responsibility-for-what-reaction-you-want/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) ## More by Ethel Merman > [You'll never prove you're too good for a job by not doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/you-ll-never-prove-you-re-too-good-for-a-job-by-not-doing-your-best/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I attend surprisingly few shows. The type of theater that is popular today just doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-attend-surprisingly-few-shows-the-type-of-theater-that-is-popular/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [At a flea market I always head for the junk jewelry table first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/at-a-flea-market-i-always-head-for-the-junk-jewelry-table-first/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [The only things I read are gossip columns. If I read three pages of a book, I'm out like a light. When I pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/the-only-things-i-read-are-gossip-columns-if-i-read-three-pages-of-a/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've never suffered stage fright. That fascinates people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-never-suffered-stage-fright-that-fascinates-people/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [You gotta have a gimmick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/you-gotta-have-a-gimmick/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I'll admit - I was honored to be on the cover of Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ll-admit-i-was-honored-to-be-on-the-cover-of-time/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [My father taught me to read music and play the piano-but not well, even though people have said that I'm a natural musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/my-father-taught-me-to-read-music-and-play-the-piano-but-not-well/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've made a wonderful living playing that theatrical character - the professional brassy dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-made-a-wonderful-living-playing-that-theatrical-character-the/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [Cole Porter had a worldwide reputation as a sophisticate and hedonist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/cole-porter-had-a-worldwide-reputation-as-a-sophisticate-and-hedonist/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [Broadway has been very good to me. But then, I've been very good to broadway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/broadway-has-been-very-good-to-me-but-then-i-ve-been-very-good-to/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've never cooked. I can't do much more in the kitchen than make a cup of tea and some toast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-never-cooked-i-can-t-do-much-more-in-the-kitchen-than-make-a-cup/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [As far as dramas are concerned, it's considered passe for playwrights to turn out anything the average person can understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/as-far-as-dramas-are-concerned-it-s-considered-passe-for-playwrights/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I don't like to read. The only things I read are gossip columns. If someone gives me a book, it had better have lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-don-t-like-to-read-the-only-things-i-read-are-gossip-columns-if/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I told her that there was something about Christmas carols that always brought tears to my eyes. I added that I also cry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-told-her-that-there-was-something-about-christmas-carols-that/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) [Explore all 59 Ethel Merman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can never remember being afraid of an audience. 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