--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think my strength as a performer is my…" description: "\"I think my strength as a performer is my ability to straddle the fence between comedy and tragedy.\" — Mariette Hartley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/mariette-hartley-5052_comedy_i-think-my-strength-as-a-performer-is-my_226988.png" --- # I think my strength as a performer is my ability to… ![“I think my strength as a performer is my ability to straddle the fence between comedy and tragedy.” quote by Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/mariette-hartley-5052_comedy_i-think-my-strength-as-a-performer-is-my_226988.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/mariette-hartley-5052_comedy_i-think-my-strength-as-a-performer-is-my_226988.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/mariette-hartley-5052_comedy_i-think-my-strength-as-a-performer-is-my_226988.png) > “I think my strength as a performer is my ability to straddle the fence between comedy and tragedy.” [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A performer’s strength lies in balancing humor and sorrow, creating a richer, more relatable experience. **In simple terms:** Balancing comedy and tragedy strengthens performance. Key Takeaway Embrace both light and dark in art. Themes art balance emotion Mood insightful inspirational Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - acting - writing - stand‑up comedy Key Concepts dualism emotional range authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does humor soften tragedy? - When does tragedy enhance humor? A Different Perspective Risk of confusing audience if not handled skillfully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-tragedy-519409/) [Fence Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fence-comedy-1943126/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Performer Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performer-ability-2307349/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strength Performer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-performer-2307350/) [Think Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-strength-306786/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [You try to - you want to fly on both sides of the political fence because that's where the - where the comedy is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/you-try-to-you-want-to-fly-on-both-sides-of-the-political-fence/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [The ability to understand and deliver comedy and tragedy is extremely rare in one composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/signe-baumane/the-ability-to-understand-and-deliver-comedy-and-tragedy-is-extremely/) [Signe Baumane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/signe-baumane/) > [I'm a storyteller: the crux of the matter is to reach beauty, poetry; it doesn't matter if that is comedy or tragedy. 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Think of strength and power and you will draw it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prentice-mulford/keep-your-mind-as-much-as-you-can-from-dwelling-on-your-ailment-think/) [Prentice Mulford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prentice-mulford/) > [I've established a certain voice over my albums. It can be an obstacle, but in the end, I think it's a strength, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/i-ve-established-a-certain-voice-over-my-albums-it-can-be-an-obstacle/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [“Most of those who think their strength is gone and ask for help from others do not know that the strength that seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/most-of-those-who-think-their-strength-is-gone-and-ask-for-help-from/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I'm not glamorous and a bit bland, but I think that's my strength. That may be a reason behind what people say is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-shin-hye/i-m-not-glamorous-and-a-bit-bland-but-i-think-that-s-my-strength-that/) [Park Shin-hye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-shin-hye/) ## More by Mariette Hartley > [I'm at my best when I'm thrown, even though I don't like to be thrown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/i-m-at-my-best-when-i-m-thrown-even-though-i-don-t-like-to-be-thrown/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [My father was a very strong male figure to me as a child. He was very dashing, had a wonderful sense of humor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/my-father-was-a-very-strong-male-figure-to-me-as-a-child-he-was-very/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [One of the wonderful things about Shakespeare is that he trusted an audience to move quickly with him. One moment tragedy, the next comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/one-of-the-wonderful-things-about-shakespeare-is-that-he-trusted-an/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [I enjoy live television a lot, but I'm not crazy about the hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/i-enjoy-live-television-a-lot-but-i-m-not-crazy-about-the-hours/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [What took some time for me to figure out was how to have a life outside my career, to find a way to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/what-took-some-time-for-me-to-figure-out-was-how-to-have-a-life/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [When you are shooting a movie in a week, there's not much time to travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/when-you-are-shooting-a-movie-in-a-week-there-s-not-much-time-to/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [I talk only about my journey because that's all I know. 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There's a hunger out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/i-talk-only-about-my-journey-because-that-s-all-i-know-that-s-what/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [I think I know what middle America enjoys seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/i-think-i-know-what-middle-america-enjoys-seeing/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [There wasn't exactly a plethora of physical affection in our family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/there-wasn-t-exactly-a-plethora-of-physical-affection-in-our-family/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [I got used to certain things that normal kids don't get used to, like, when my mother went into the kitchen for things other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/i-got-used-to-certain-things-that-normal-kids-don-t-get-used-to-like/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [But I will say that TV was a great education for me. It allowed me to develop techniques for getting the job done. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/but-i-will-say-that-tv-was-a-great-education-for-me-it-allowed-me-to/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [I'm not a compulsive worker, and I've never been a workaholic, so if I have a three-week vacation, I don't want to do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/i-m-not-a-compulsive-worker-and-i-ve-never-been-a-workaholic-so-if-i/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [I love comedy. That's what I really look forward to doing. Enough of this heavy drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/i-love-comedy-that-s-what-i-really-look-forward-to-doing-enough-of/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [It's hard to be a long-distance mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/it-s-hard-to-be-a-long-distance-mother/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [I have tried very hard to sing. I've taken a lot of lessons. I've always wanted to. 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This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. 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