--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I act I try to express the suffering…" description: "\"When I act I try to express the suffering or joy I've known during my lifetime.\" — Ethel Waters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/ethel-waters-9047_joy_when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-sufferin_627796.jpg" --- # When I act I try to express the suffering or joy I've… ![“When I act I try to express the suffering or joy I've known during my lifetime.” quote by Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/ethel-waters-9047_joy_when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-sufferin_627796.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/ethel-waters-9047_joy_when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-sufferin_627796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/ethel-waters-9047_joy_when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-sufferin_627796.jpg) > “When I act I try to express the suffering or joy I've known during my lifetime.” [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. She aims to convey personal emotional experiences through performance. **In simple terms:** Express personal joy and suffering. Key Takeaway Share authentic feelings. Themes authenticity expression empathy Mood reflective introspective Type artistic personal When to use this quote - Stage acting - music recording - public speaking Key Concepts Performance art emotional honesty Questions to Reflect On - How does sharing pain affect listeners - Is vulnerability always beneficial? A Different Perspective May alienate audiences who prefer escapism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [It's a very fascinating thing for an actor to play somebody who is suffering, and you have to express the suffering, but in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-marsan/it-s-a-very-fascinating-thing-for-an-actor-to-play-somebody-who-is/) [Eddie Marsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-marsan/) > [I hate this idea that there are some people who have a right to express their suffering and others who don't, that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/i-hate-this-idea-that-there-are-some-people-who-have-a-right-to/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [“What would happen if a man's face could adequately express his suffering, if his entire inner agony would be objectified in his facial expression?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/what-would-happen-if-a-man-s-face-could-adequately-express-his/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [“But there is an unbounded pleasure to be had in the possession of a young, newly blossoming soul! It is like a flower, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/but-there-is-an-unbounded-pleasure-to-be-had-in-the-possession-of-a/) [Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/) > [Although I know that there is ultimately greater glory in suffering than in joy, it is joy that sustains us. It is in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lars-zwerenz/although-i-know-that-there-is-ultimately-greater-glory-in-suffering/) [John Lars Zwerenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lars-zwerenz/) > [“when you're feeling emotional, remember: there is no sad, sad comes from feeling too happy. there is no happy, happiness comes from feeling extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirhana4/when-you-re-feeling-emotional-remember-there-is-no-sad-sad-comes-from/) pirhana4 > [Suffering and joy teach us, if we allow them, how to make the leap of empathy, which transports us into the soul and heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fritz/suffering-and-joy-teach-us-if-we-allow-them-how-to-make-the-leap-of/) William Fritz > [We can at each moment create value and develop our state of life, enjoying our existence to the fullest in times of both suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/we-can-at-each-moment-create-value-and-develop-our-state-of-life/) Senoraroy > [All the suffering and joy we experience depend on conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/all-the-suffering-and-joy-we-experience-depend-on-conditions/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [“Learn the discipline of being surprised not by suffering but by joy. As we grow old, there is suffering ahead of us, immense suffering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/learn-the-discipline-of-being-surprised-not-by-suffering-but-by-joy/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Like the ocean that remains calm in its depths even when waves rage over its surface, and like the sun that continues shining on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/like-the-ocean-that-remains-calm-in-its-depths-even-when-waves-rage/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/suffer-what-there-is-to-suffer-enjoy-what-there-is-to-enjoy-regard-2/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [“There is a kind of joy even in the suffering that comes to you from the one you love. And even happiness that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/there-is-a-kind-of-joy-even-in-the-suffering-that-comes-to-you-from/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [When we are expecting only suffering, the least joy surprises us: Suffering itself becomes the greatest of joys when we seek it as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/when-we-are-expecting-only-suffering-the-least-joy-surprises-us/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [“In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahavira/in-happiness-and-suffering-in-joy-and-grief-we-should-regard-all/) [Mahavira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahavira/) ## 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/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/after-years-in-white-theaters-i-dreaded-working-in-colored-houses-the/) [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/) [Explore all 75 Ethel Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) ## More Joy quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) [Browse all 15,003 Joy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I act I try to express the suffering or joy I've known during my lifetime.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ethel Waters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-suffering-or-joy-i-ve-known-during-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Joy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-suffering-or-joy-i-ve-known-during-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/ethel-waters-9047_joy_when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-sufferin_627796.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/ethel-waters-9047_joy_when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-sufferin_627796.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/ethel-waters-9047_joy_when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-sufferin_627796.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I act I try to express the suffering or joy I've known during my lifetime.” — Ethel Waters", "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 Waters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I act I try to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-suffering-or-joy-i-ve-known-during-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/when-i-act-i-try-to-express-the-suffering-or-joy-i-ve-known-during-my/#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 } } ] } ```