--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After years in white theaters I dreaded…" description: "\"After years in white theaters I dreaded working in colored houses. The noise, the stomping, whistling, and cheering that hadn't annoyed me when I was y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/804/ethel-waters-9047_annoyed_after-years-in-white-theaters-i-dreaded_351325.jpg" --- # After years in white theaters I dreaded working in colored… ![“After years in white theaters I dreaded working in colored houses. The noise, the stomping, whistling, and cheering that hadn't annoyed me when I was young was now something I dreaded.” quote by Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/804/ethel-waters-9047_annoyed_after-years-in-white-theaters-i-dreaded_351325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/804/ethel-waters-9047_annoyed_after-years-in-white-theaters-i-dreaded_351325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/804/ethel-waters-9047_annoyed_after-years-in-white-theaters-i-dreaded_351325.jpg) > “After years in white theaters I dreaded working in colored houses. The noise, the stomping, whistling, and cheering that hadn't annoyed me when I was young was now something I dreaded.” [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transitioning from familiar to new environments can cause unexpected stress and dread. **In simple terms:** New settings can feel overwhelming. Key Takeaway Adapt by gradually exposing yourself to change. Themes change adaptation performance anxiety growth Mood anxious reflective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - theater work - new job - relocating - public speaking Key Concepts environmental psychology stress response career transition Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your dread? - How can you reframe new experiences? A Different Perspective Comfort zones may limit potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Stomping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stomping/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) ## Related quotes > [Wherever there is a jackboot stomping on a human face there will be a well-heeled Western liberal to explain that the face does, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/wherever-there-is-a-jackboot-stomping-on-a-human-face-there-will-be-a/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Come on," Alec said, already stomping down the ramp. "Let's find us a squirrel." He swept the weapon back and forth as he walked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/come-on-alec-said-already-stomping-down-the-ramp-let-s-find-us-a/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Some people say I'm conscious, some say I'm a gangsta rapper - it's just me doing me. I'm stomping in my own lane. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/some-people-say-i-m-conscious-some-say-i-m-a-gangsta-rapper-it-s-just/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [For me, growing up in Harlem and then migrating down to SoHo and the Lower East Side and chillin' down there and making that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asap-rocky/for-me-growing-up-in-harlem-and-then-migrating-down-to-soho-and-the/) [ASAP Rocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asap-rocky/) > [Fabulous" Jack said, reaching down and plucking a crimson flower. A small scream sounded from it as he severed the stem. He smiled maliciously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/fabulous-jack-said-reaching-down-and-plucking-a-crimson-flower-a/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [New York is traditional New York, you know what I'm saying? It's the stomping ground of the hustlers and go-getters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busta-rhymes/new-york-is-traditional-new-york-you-know-what-i-m-saying-it-s-the/) [Busta Rhymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busta-rhymes/) > [What happened, then? You're stomping through every puddle you can find and look like you're going to punch the first person you see." "Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/what-happened-then-you-re-stomping-through-every-puddle-you-can-find/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [The music was thunder and joy. Lightning bolts of happiness and praise, foot-stomping, dance-shouting, good-feeling singing from the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/the-music-was-thunder-and-joy-lightning-bolts-of-happiness-and-praise/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [I've lost my mind," Alex muttered, grabbing her knives again and stomping back across the kitchen. "I woke up this morning a boring little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/i-ve-lost-my-mind-alex-muttered-grabbing-her-knives-again-and/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [It's possible to climb to the top without stomping on other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/it-s-possible-to-climb-to-the-top-without-stomping-on-other-people/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Those who fail to learn from the brutal stompings visited on them in the past are doomed to be brutally stomped in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/those-who-fail-to-learn-from-the-brutal-stompings-visited-on-them-in/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it's our job to stomp on them and keep them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/men-are-like-a-fine-wine-they-all-start-out-like-grapes-and-it-s-our/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Let me get this straight. you want me to go stomping through a graveyard brandishing a bottle of booze to rouse an unrestful spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/let-me-get-this-straight-you-want-me-to-go-stomping-through-a/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Any mature, responsible adult doesn't run around stomping their feet and screaming 'I'm a mature, responsible, adult.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-ryan/any-mature-responsible-adult-doesn-t-run-around-stomping-their-feet/) [Debby Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-ryan/) ## More by Ethel Waters > [Whenever I write for hotel reservations, I always enclose a set of rules I have made for the hotels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/whenever-i-write-for-hotel-reservations-i-always-enclose-a-set-of/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Today I blame only certain agents for my long eclipse as a public entertainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/today-i-blame-only-certain-agents-for-my-long-eclipse-as-a-public/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I had always loved John Ford's pictures. And I came to love him, too, but I was frightened to death working for him. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-had-always-loved-john-ford-s-pictures-and-i-came-to-love-him-too/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [All my life I've been prejudiced against wealthy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/all-my-life-i-ve-been-prejudiced-against-wealthy-people/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [The big compliment came from the beer drinkers who didn't know me. They wouldn't drink or move when I sang. If they had their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/the-big-compliment-came-from-the-beer-drinkers-who-didn-t-know-me/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I was born out of wedlock. Nobody brought me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-was-born-out-of-wedlock-nobody-brought-me-up/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I dressed plain, but my partners were always spending more money on clothes than I could afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-dressed-plain-but-my-partners-were-always-spending-more-money-on/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Many people know how to criticize, but few know how to praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/many-people-know-how-to-criticize-but-few-know-how-to-praise/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Negroes are human beings with exactly the same faults and virtues as members of the other races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/negroes-are-human-beings-with-exactly-the-same-faults-and-virtues-as/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [There is a great supply of amateur undertakers in show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/there-is-a-great-supply-of-amateur-undertakers-in-show-business/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [My father came back one day and forced my mother to submit to him. He raped her, holding a knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/my-father-came-back-one-day-and-forced-my-mother-to-submit-to-him-he/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Though I was excited about the Sojourner Truth play, it was not reassuring to think that my entire future might depend on the success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/though-i-was-excited-about-the-sojourner-truth-play-it-was-not/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I found that a couple of bottles of beer would give me a lift, but the third bottle would sober me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-found-that-a-couple-of-bottles-of-beer-would-give-me-a-lift-but-the/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [The white audiences thought I was white, my features being what they are, and at every performance I'd have to take off my gloves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/the-white-audiences-thought-i-was-white-my-features-being-what-they/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [My aunts lived on liquor and seldom felt like eating much. I don't know what's wrong about a kid stealing when he's hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/my-aunts-lived-on-liquor-and-seldom-felt-like-eating-much-i-don-t/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) [Explore all 75 Ethel Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) ## More Annoyed quotes > [“He remained annoyed with himself until he realized that not knowing what he wanted was actually quite natural. We can never know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/he-remained-annoyed-with-himself-until-he-realized-that-not-knowing/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I think everyone has been annoyed at school or in their life, that's a type of bullying. 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Writing has been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/each-email-contains-an-unsubscribe-link-we-will-never-sell-rent-loan/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [One of the first things we did was to find role models or mentors at companies that had achieved what we wanted to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-harper/one-of-the-first-things-we-did-was-to-find-role-models-or-mentors-at/) Mitch Harper > [We were only there for five days and during that time Tom was a bit annoyed that the French were more interested in me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalla-ward/we-were-only-there-for-five-days-and-during-that-time-tom-was-a-bit/) [Lalla Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalla-ward/) > [There are two types of people in the world: the ones that piss me off and the ones that don't. Decide which one you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-the-world-the-ones-that-piss-me-off/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a huge 'Breaking Bad' fan; I would be really annoyed if anyone told me anything about what was going to happen in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-m-a-huge-breaking-bad-fan-i-would-be-really-annoyed-if-anyone-told/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [There's always male roles I want to play. I'm so annoyed when I watch movies and go, "That could have been played by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/there-s-always-male-roles-i-want-to-play-i-m-so-annoyed-when-i-watch/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [ “Be annoyed and sin not" ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/be-annoyed-and-sin-not-r-alan-woods-2012/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“Jen, get a clue and read Wadim's shirt." Jacque told her dryly. 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