---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When [Claudette Colbert] died at 92, on…"
description: "\"“When [Claudette Colbert] died at 92, on July 30, 1996, her front-page New York Times obit recalled her “wit, gaiety, cupid’sbow mouth and light touch ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/eve-golden-25326_york-times_when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-jul_1435462.jpg"
---

#  When \[Claudette Colbert\] died at 92, on July 30, 1996, her…

![“When &#91;Claudette Colbert&#93; died at 92, on July 30, 1996, her front-page New York Times obit recalled her “wit, gaiety, cupid’sbow mouth and light touch . . . worldly and sophisticated yet down to earth.” Claudette herself was quoted, “I’ve always believed that acting is instinct to start with; you…” quote by Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/eve-golden-25326_york-times_when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-jul_1435462.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/eve-golden-25326_york-times_when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-jul_1435462.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/eve-golden-25326_york-times_when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-jul_1435462.jpg)

> ““When \[Claudette Colbert\] died at 92, on July 30, 1996, her front-page New York Times obit recalled her “wit, gaiety, cupid’sbow mouth and light touch . . . worldly and sophisticated yet down to earth.” Claudette herself was quoted, “I’ve always believed that acting is instinct to start with; you either have it or you don’t . . . I did comedy because all my life I always wanted to laugh myself. There was never anything that gave me as much satisfaction as to be in something amusing.””

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Acting is an innate talent; comedy fulfills a deep desire for joy and amusement.

**In simple terms:** Acting is instinct; comedy brings joy.

Key Takeaway

Pursue work that aligns with natural talent and joy.

Themes

talent comedy authenticity joy

Mood

celebratory inspirational

Type

biographical motivational

When to use this quote

- career choice
- artistic development
- personal fulfillment

Key Concepts

creative expression psychology of humor

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you follow your innate talents?
- What role does humor play in your life?

A Different Perspective

Talent alone may not guarantee success without effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[York Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-times/)

## Related quotes

> [“Not many performers are equally at home in drama and comedy; Claudette Colbert was one of those few. It’s hard to decide whether she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/not-many-performers-are-equally-at-home-in-drama-and-comedy-claudette/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“Claudette Colbert was not Hollywood’s greatest beauty, but her trim little figure, round, kitten-like face, and obviously intelligent good humor made her a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/claudette-colbert-was-not-hollywood-s-greatest-beauty-but-her-trim/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [ “In 1990 \[Claudette Colbert\] wished Vanity Fair readers “a fabulous new decade. I’m praying to make it to 2000. After all, I’ll only be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/in-1990-claudette-colbert-wished-vanity-fair-readers-a-fabulous-new/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [The thing is, with 'This Is England', you're always thinking as yourself. You're acting on an instinct. You're acting on what you've heard, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/the-thing-is-with-this-is-england-you-re-always-thinking-as-yourself/)

[Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/)

> [I've always believed that acting is instinct to start with; you either have it or you don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colbert/i-ve-always-believed-that-acting-is-instinct-to-start-with-you-either/)

[Claudette Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colbert/)

> [One of the reasons why I went to the Yale School of Drama is because I felt that I was acting off of instinct,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/one-of-the-reasons-why-i-went-to-the-yale-school-of-drama-is-because/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [I know what's best for me, after all I have been in the Claudette Colbert business longer than anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colbert/i-know-what-s-best-for-me-after-all-i-have-been-in-the-claudette/)

[Claudette Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colbert/)

> [Bette Davis, she was so brilliant and one of my heroes, but she worked a ton, and then she didn't get All About Eve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/bette-davis-she-was-so-brilliant-and-one-of-my-heroes-but-she-worked/)

[Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/)

> [I could have carried on in comedy. But my life was dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rampling/i-could-have-carried-on-in-comedy-but-my-life-was-dark/)

[Charlotte Rampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rampling/)

> [I don't want to make a style. Not tragedy, not comedy. Life is a mixing of all kind of things: comedy and tragedy going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-don-t-want-to-make-a-style-not-tragedy-not-comedy-life-is-a-mixing/)

[Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/)

> [I loved comedy all my life. I think it's a real powerful art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-loved-comedy-all-my-life-i-think-it-s-a-real-powerful-art-form/)

[Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/)

> [“I never intend to grow old. The soul is born old but grows young. That is the comedy of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-never-intend-to-grow-old-the-soul-is-born-old-but-grows-young-that/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [I've always loved, as an Aussie, comedy is part of my life. My friends and I are always ribbing each other and that's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-ve-always-loved-as-an-aussie-comedy-is-part-of-my-life-my-friends/)

[Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/)

> [I was voted Most Humorous in my senior class in high school, and I was a fan of comedy, my whole life. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-riggle/i-was-voted-most-humorous-in-my-senior-class-in-high-school-and-i-was/)

[Rob Riggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-riggle/)

> [It's a cliche, but my comedy is all about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/it-s-a-cliche-but-my-comedy-is-all-about-life/)

[John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/)

## More by Eve Golden

> [“Barbara Stanwyck, in particular, was peerless in everything from high and low comedy to drama to musicals to film noir. She never took a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/barbara-stanwyck-in-particular-was-peerless-in-everything-from-high/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [ “We worked so hard,” \[Joan Blondell\] said, “and hardly ever had a day off . . . Saturday was a working day and we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/we-worked-so-hard-joan-blondell-said-and-hardly-ever-had-a-day-off/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [ “In 1990 \[Claudette Colbert\] wished Vanity Fair readers “a fabulous new decade. I’m praying to make it to 2000. After all, I’ll only be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/in-1990-claudette-colbert-wished-vanity-fair-readers-a-fabulous-new/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“One of the greatest was the blonde, urbane Ina Claire, who seemed a Dorothy Parker story or New Yorker cartoon come to life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/one-of-the-greatest-was-the-blonde-urbane-ina-claire-who-seemed-a/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“Claudette Colbert was not Hollywood’s greatest beauty, but her trim little figure, round, kitten-like face, and obviously intelligent good humor made her a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/claudette-colbert-was-not-hollywood-s-greatest-beauty-but-her-trim/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“I bumped into every kind of disappointment, and was frustrated at every turn. Roles promised me were given to other players, pictures that offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/i-bumped-into-every-kind-of-disappointment-and-was-frustrated-at/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [ “\[Joan Blondell\] biographer, Matthew Kennedy, quotes her as admitting, “If I had taken myself more seriously . . . if I had fought for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/joan-blondell-biographer-matthew-kennedy-quotes-her-as-admitting-if-i/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“Joan Blondell had it all: looks, talent, energy, humor. If she never became a top-flight superstar, the fault lies mostly with Warner Brothers. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/joan-blondell-had-it-all-looks-talent-energy-humor-if-she-never/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“There were giants striding the screen in the 1930s and ’40s: four actresses so talented, hardworking and versatile that they became laws unto themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/there-were-giants-striding-the-screen-in-the-1930s-and-40s-four/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“Blonde movie stars in the 1950s seem to have been pretty much divided between breathy bombshells (Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield) and slim, elegant swans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/blonde-movie-stars-in-the-1950s-seem-to-have-been-pretty-much-divided/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“Calling Billie Burke a “character actress” is like calling the Grand Canyon “quite a slice.” Though she’s best known for dithering supporting roles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/calling-billie-burke-a-character-actress-is-like-calling-the-grand/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [ “Talking films revealed \[Jean Arthur\]'s quirky, remarkable voice: nasal, raspy, querulous— an odd, expressive voice which somehow fit her intense, funny and very smart… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/talking-films-revealed-jean-arthur-s-quirky-remarkable-voice-nasal/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“Through the early 1930s, Barbara Stanwyck established her reputation in a field overflowing with other young Broadway starlets: Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, Katharine Hepburn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/through-the-early-1930s-barbara-stanwyck-established-her-reputation/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [“Her first really great role, the one that cemented the “Jean Arthur character,” was as the wisecracking big-city reporter who eventually melts for country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/her-first-really-great-role-the-one-that-cemented-the-jean-arthur/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

> [ “But interviews with \[Margaret Dumont\] reveal her to have been a perceptive and talented comic actress. “Many a comedian’s lines have been lost on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/but-interviews-with-margaret-dumont-reveal-her-to-have-been-a/)

[Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

[Explore all 23 Eve Golden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/)

## More York Times quotes

> [“What I hadn’t realized was that, above all else, Favs was a prodigy. Speechwriters, even great ones, tend to lead either from the head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-litt/what-i-hadn-t-realized-was-that-above-all-else-favs-was-a-prodigy/)

[David Litt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-litt/)

> [I read the New York Times, and if I'm in a different city, I'll skim that paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-read-the-new-york-times-and-if-i-m-in-a-different-city-i-ll-skim/)

[David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/)

> [While opponents label (Howard) Dean a throwback liberal, The New York Times recently noted that as governor, Dean cut income taxes, reformed welfare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/while-opponents-label-howard-dean-a-throwback-liberal-the-new-york/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [“I was wondering how Ms. Hetley, who seemed to occupy just about every slot on the New York Times hardback, paperback, and e-book bestseller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-langer/i-was-wondering-how-ms-hetley-who-seemed-to-occupy-just-about-every/)

[Adam Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-langer/)

> [I get questions from Richard Sandomir at the New York Times or Michael Hiestand at USA Today about issues .., 'well, there's a blog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/i-get-questions-from-richard-sandomir-at-the-new-york-times-or/)

[Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/)

> [Over the first two weeks of the Donald Trump administration, Steve Bannon has emerged as one of the most powerful figures in the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-goodman/over-the-first-two-weeks-of-the-donald-trump-administration-steve/)

[Amy Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-goodman/)

> [It's useful to be born in a different culture because you see things that are not obvious. I come from France. In France, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-mouly/it-s-useful-to-be-born-in-a-different-culture-because-you-see-things/)

[Francoise Mouly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-mouly/)

> [The New York Times is the worst in that hardly anybody can write English over there. Most of it reads like slight translations from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-new-york-times-is-the-worst-in-that-hardly-anybody-can-write/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [“I, Lisa K Friedman, being of sound mind and broken foot, served him with a mock complaint: breach of the marriage contract. New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-lisa-k-friedman-being-of-sound-mind-and-broken-foot-served-him-with/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I know what you're thinking. ‘How the hell does this broke ass piece of trailer trash know words like caveat,’ right? Well guess what?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isobel-irons/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-how-the-hell-does-this-broke-ass-piece-of/)

[Isobel Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isobel-irons/)

> [“I do not go to church. I don’t go to Christian church or Jew church or any other church. I don’t go to church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-do-not-go-to-church-i-don-t-go-to-christian-church-or-jew-church-or/)

[Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/)

> [“The cliché that “everything leaks; it all comes out in the New York Times eventually” is emphatically not true, above all for sensitive compartmented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/the-clich-that-everything-leaks-it-all-comes-out-in-the-new-york/)

[Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/)

> [This is a very proud moment for journalism. I think The New York Times and The Washington Post are genuine champions in this moment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-klein/this-is-a-very-proud-moment-for-journalism-i-think-the-new-york-times/)

[Ezra Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-klein/)

> [“My life had become a helluva plot that could give Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie another New York Times bestseller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-david/my-life-had-become-a-helluva-plot-that-could-give-chimamanda-ngozi/)

[S. A. David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/)

> [We did a campaign here with New York Times. We had a great ad: "Today in America, someone will kill an elephant for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/we-did-a-campaign-here-with-new-york-times-we-had-a-great-ad-today-in/)

[Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/)

[Browse all 669 York Times quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-times/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“When [Claudette Colbert] died at 92, on July 30, 1996, her front-page New York Times obit recalled her “wit, gaiety, cupid’sbow mouth and light touch . . . worldly and sophisticated yet down to earth.” Claudette herself was quoted, “I’ve always believed that acting is instinct to start with; you either have it or you don’t . . . I did comedy because all my life I always wanted to laugh myself. There was never anything that gave me as much satisfaction as to be in something amusing.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eve Golden"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-july-30-1996-her-front-page-new/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "York Times"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-july-30-1996-her-front-page-new/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/eve-golden-25326_york-times_when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-jul_1435462.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/eve-golden-25326_york-times_when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-jul_1435462.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/eve-golden-25326_york-times_when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-jul_1435462.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When [Claudette Colbert] died at 92, on July 30, 1996, her front-page New York Times obit recalled her “wit…” — Eve Golden",
                "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": "Eve Golden",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“When [Claudette Colbert] died at 92,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-july-30-1996-her-front-page-new/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/when-claudette-colbert-died-at-92-on-july-30-1996-her-front-page-new/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
