--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I take a breath when I have to." description: "\"I take a breath when I have to.\" — Ethel Merman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/ethel-merman-11612_breath_i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to-2659474_2659474.png" --- # I take a breath when I have to. ![“I take a breath when I have to.” quote by Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/ethel-merman-11612_breath_i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to-2659474_2659474.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/ethel-merman-11612_breath_i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to-2659474_2659474.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/ethel-merman-11612_breath_i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to-2659474_2659474.png) > “I take a breath when I have to.” [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 performer acknowledges the necessity of breathing as a coping mechanism during demanding moments. **In simple terms:** Breathing helps manage pressure. Key Takeaway Use breath to stay calm under stress. Themes performance stress management health Mood calm focused Type practical motivational When to use this quote - stage performances - public speaking - high-pressure work Key Concepts mindfulness physiology resilience Questions to Reflect On - When do you feel you need to "take a breath"? - What other tools help you stay grounded? A Different Perspective Breathing alone may not solve deeper anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ## Related quotes > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Any time I'm having difficulty, I focus on the breath, on relaxed breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/any-time-i-m-having-difficulty-i-focus-on-the-breath-on-relaxed/) [Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/) > [“Divide the constant tide and random noisiness of energetic flow, with conscious recurring moments of empty mind, solitude, gratitude and deep...slow...breathing. Of this, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/divide-the-constant-tide-and-random-noisiness-of-energetic-flow-with/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [“With every breath, the old moment is lost; a new moment arrives. We exhale and we let go of the old moment. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/with-every-breath-the-old-moment-is-lost-a-new-moment-arrives-we/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“Kipo kitu kinaendelea kufanyika katika siku zetu za furaha na katika siku zetu za huzuni kwa kila mmojawetu hapa duniani bila ya upendeleo wowote.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/kipo-kitu-kinaendelea-kufanyika-katika-siku-zetu-za-furaha-na-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“Meditation is to understand that one breath, which connects all beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/meditation-is-to-understand-that-one-breath-which-connects-all-beings/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [“Inhale as if it's your first breath; exhale as if it's your last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/inhale-as-if-it-s-your-first-breath-exhale-as-if-it-s-your-last/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [“...there is something very vital happening when we breathe—without it we die—but trying to speed it up, force it, grasp it, push it away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-halliwell/there-is-something-very-vital-happening-when-we-breathe-without-it-we/) [Ed halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-halliwell/) > [“Although you could open a can of soup with a hammer, a stone, or even your teeth if you didn’t mind making a mess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/although-you-could-open-a-can-of-soup-with-a-hammer-a-stone-or-even/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [I've been thinking about something for a long time, and I keep noticing that most human speech-if not all human speech-is made with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/i-ve-been-thinking-about-something-for-a-long-time-and-i-keep/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [“In the book of Job, the Lord demands, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?” “I was there!”-surely that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/in-the-book-of-job-the-lord-demands-where-wast-thou-when-i-laid-the/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/if-you-want-to-conquer-the-anxiety-of-life-live-in-the-moment-live-in/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [Girl you want to know why you are always breathing? Because the reason why is quite simple It so I always take your breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrcountry/girl-you-want-to-know-why-you-are-always-breathing-because-the-reason/) MrCountry > [There is one way of breathing that is shameful and constricted. Then, there's another way: a breath of love that takes you all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-is-one-way-of-breathing-that-is-shameful-and-constricted-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“It is often thought that spirits in the after-world do not breathe as we might do - and that in being dead, one does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-brunsdon/it-is-often-thought-that-spirits-in-the-after-world-do-not-breathe-as/) [Gabriel Brunsdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-brunsdon/) ## 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 Breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [So we must do our very best Whatever life may bring And look beyond the winter chill To smell the breath of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-we-must-do-our-very-best-whatever-life-may-bring-and-look-beyond/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“He’s sitting so close, I can feel his breath on my cheek. My stomach flip-flops again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-sitting-so-close-i-can-feel-his-breath-on-my-cheek-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My life to yours. My breath beecome yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-life-to-yours-my-breath-beecome-yours/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Being able to be myself was like being able to exhale for the first time after holding my breath for years. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/404-ink/being-able-to-be-myself-was-like-being-able-to-exhale-for-the-first/) 404 Ink [Browse all 1,839 Breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I take a breath when I have to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ethel Merman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breath" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/ethel-merman-11612_breath_i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to-2659474_2659474.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/ethel-merman-11612_breath_i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to-2659474_2659474.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/ethel-merman-11612_breath_i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to-2659474_2659474.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I take a breath when I have to.” — Ethel Merman", "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": "Ethel Merman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I take a breath when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-take-a-breath-when-i-have-to/#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 } } ] } ```