Application Quote by Rebecca West
“An audience proves its discipline by its capacity for stillness. Those who have never practiced continuous application to an exacting process cannot settle down to simple watching; they must chew gum, they must dig the peel off their oranges, they must shift from foot to foot, from buttock to buttock.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Discipline of the Audience", 1935
An audience's ability to remain still reflects its discipline; restless viewers cannot truly observe.
In simple terms: Stillness shows an audience’s discipline.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate patience when listening.
Themes
discipline
attention
observation
restlessness
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- lecture halls
- theater performances
- online webinars
Key Concepts
Mindfulness
focus
behavioral habits
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you stay still and absorb content?
- What does restlessness reveal about you?
A Different Perspective
Audience may be forced to stay still, limiting comfort.
![“Like all bad drivers, he [Henry Andrews] thought he was the best driver in the world...” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/54b/rebecca-west-1248_andrew_like-all-bad-drivers-he-henry-andrews-th_152541.jpg)
![“[On Jane Austen:] To believe her limited in range because she was harmonious in method is as sensible as to imagine that when the Atlantic Ocean is as smooth as a mill-pond it shrinks to the size of a mill-pond.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8d4/rebecca-west-1248_atlantic-ocean_on-jane-austen-to-believe-her-limited-in_215037.jpg)
