--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I only wrote two fan letters in my life…" description: "\"I only wrote two fan letters in my life. One was to Bette Davis. And one was to Ron Palillo, who played Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter.' And Ron did..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/ryan-murphy-7917_bette-davis_i-only-wrote-two-fan-letters-in-my-life_1420839.png" --- # I only wrote two fan letters in my life. One was to Bette… ![“I only wrote two fan letters in my life. One was to Bette Davis. And one was to Ron Palillo, who played Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter.' And Ron did not write me back, but Bette Davis did.” quote by Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/ryan-murphy-7917_bette-davis_i-only-wrote-two-fan-letters-in-my-life_1420839.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/ryan-murphy-7917_bette-davis_i-only-wrote-two-fan-letters-in-my-life_1420839.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/ryan-murphy-7917_bette-davis_i-only-wrote-two-fan-letters-in-my-life_1420839.png) > “I only wrote two fan letters in my life. One was to Bette Davis. And one was to Ron Palillo, who played Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter.' And Ron did not write me back, but Bette Davis did.” [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about writing fan letters, highlighting the rarity of response and the impact of a single reply. **In simple terms:** Only two fan letters were written; one got a reply, the other didn't. Key Takeaway Appreciate the value of genuine connections. Themes celebrity culture fan letters communication recognition personal anecdotes Mood reflective lighthearted Type personal anecdotal When to use this quote - writing fan letters - seeking mentorship - celebrity interaction - personal storytelling Key Concepts social validation celebrity influence Questions to Reflect On - What does receiving a reply mean to you? - How do you handle silence from admired figures? A Different Perspective Not all outreach yields response; expectations should be managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [I wrote a fan e-mail to Michael Chabon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-wrote-a-fan-e-mail-to-michael-chabon/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I was in a fan forum for Bombay Bicycle Club. I had blogs about them and I wrote fan fiction about them. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmat/i-was-in-a-fan-forum-for-bombay-bicycle-club-i-had-blogs-about-them/) [CMAT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmat/) > [I've written some love letters in my life, I can say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/i-ve-written-some-love-letters-in-my-life-i-can-say/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [I have received no more than one or two letters in my life that were worth the postage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-have-received-no-more-than-one-or-two-letters-in-my-life-that-were/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“I always wondered what the 4 letters in LIFE stands for. I now understand that they stand for: Little Interesting Facts Everyday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armin-houman/i-always-wondered-what-the-4-letters-in-life-stands-for-i-now/) [Armin Houman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armin-houman/) > [“With you away, it is as if all the letters in my life are scrambled into an anagram, and I will not be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/with-you-away-it-is-as-if-all-the-letters-in-my-life-are-scrambled/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [The middle letters of LifE are - if - we're living possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/the-middle-letters-of-life-are-if-we-re-living-possibilities/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [I think that the work that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford did was truly extraordinary, and that's their legacy. Not the other petty stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-think-that-the-work-that-bette-davis-and-joan-crawford-did-was/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I was very much raised by my grandmother, who actually was Bette Davis - looked like her, acted like her, talked like her. Probably,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-was-very-much-raised-by-my-grandmother-who-actually-was-bette-davis/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [Joan Crawford and Bette Davis are larger than life. They just are. They sucked all the oxygen out of a room: they're icons; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/joan-crawford-and-bette-davis-are-larger-than-life-they-just-are-they/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I do that a lot of authors still do not do is allow people to write directly to me. I get about 50 fan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-do-that-a-lot-of-authors-still-do-not-do-is-allow-people-to-write/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [The digital world has allowed me a connection with my reader that I'd never had before. I didn't meet the people who read my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berkeley-breathed/the-digital-world-has-allowed-me-a-connection-with-my-reader-that-i-d/) [Berkeley Breathed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berkeley-breathed/) > [Come to think of it, even though I've received tons of fan letters and presents from everyone, I've never written anyone back. How rude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-toriyama/come-to-think-of-it-even-though-i-ve-received-tons-of-fan-letters-and/) [Akira Toriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-toriyama/) > [“That's what I've always found so pathetic about fans . They weep when they have a live glimpse of you, frame the fork you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/that-s-what-i-ve-always-found-so-pathetic-about-fans-they-weep-when/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [I get fan letters written in everything from crayons to lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/i-get-fan-letters-written-in-everything-from-crayons-to-lipstick/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) ## More by Ryan Murphy > [Larry Kramer wisely realized so early on that to change the world, people have to know you. If they know you and see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/larry-kramer-wisely-realized-so-early-on-that-to-change-the-world/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I think everyone wants for their children a world that's better than the one they came up in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-think-everyone-wants-for-their-children-a-world-that-s-better-than/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [One of the unique things about 'American Horror Story' is, it's very respectful to actors. Actors in many cases don't want to be tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/one-of-the-unique-things-about-american-horror-story-is-it-s-very/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I started off in this business in 1998, and I didn't fit in. There was no place for me, and I always felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-started-off-in-this-business-in-1998-and-i-didn-t-fit-in-there-was/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [Originally, 'Popular' was going to be a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/originally-popular-was-going-to-be-a-movie/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I love crispy, cool sheets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-love-crispy-cool-sheets/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [As a showrunner, you can never be a 'maybe.' When I do movies, there is a lot of, 'Maybe' and, 'Let's investigate that.' But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/as-a-showrunner-you-can-never-be-a-maybe-when-i-do-movies-there-is-a/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I don't think there's ever a winner in a feud. It's about emotional pain and an inability to conquer the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-don-t-think-there-s-ever-a-winner-in-a-feud-it-s-about-emotional/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [Well, I'm from Indiana. So to me when I was a little kid growing up, Cincinnati was the glamorous New York of it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/well-i-m-from-indiana-so-to-me-when-i-was-a-little-kid-growing-up/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [The Hollywood thing is - like, it feels like the biggest thing in the world, and yet it's the smallest town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/the-hollywood-thing-is-like-it-feels-like-the-biggest-thing-in-the/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [“The sidewalks flash silver with mica. Skyline smeared with geese. By way of recognition I lost the sound of your voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/the-sidewalks-flash-silver-with-mica-skyline-smeared-with-geese-by/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [When I was growing up my favorite show was 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', and I loved all the stuff that Norman Lear did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/when-i-was-growing-up-my-favorite-show-was-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I have a maid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-have-a-maid/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I'm not interested in anything but emotionally driven stories; that's why almost all of my work is exclusively anchored by women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-m-not-interested-in-anything-but-emotionally-driven-stories-that-s/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [You've not felt the pain of rejection until a television show based on your own life is canceled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/you-ve-not-felt-the-pain-of-rejection-until-a-television-show-based/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) [Explore all 86 Ryan Murphy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) ## More Bette davis quotes > [I was supposedly named after the Bette Davis character in 'The Letter' by my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-was-supposedly-named-after-the-bette-davis-character-in-the-letter/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I adore Bette Davis and Vivien Leigh, but more because they were good actresses. That's what makes me interested in them, that they didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-staunton/i-adore-bette-davis-and-vivien-leigh-but-more-because-they-were-good/) [Imelda Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-staunton/) > [I could never understand the attraction of Bette Davis. I always preferred Jane Russell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-griffiths/i-could-never-understand-the-attraction-of-bette-davis-i-always/) [Richard Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-griffiths/) > [I think that the work that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford did was truly extraordinary, and that's their legacy. Not the other petty stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-think-that-the-work-that-bette-davis-and-joan-crawford-did-was/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [Bette davis was one tough bitch!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/bette-davis-was-one-tough-bitch/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [Even as a kid, I was more enchanted watching Bette Davis than Errol Flynn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/even-as-a-kid-i-was-more-enchanted-watching-bette-davis-than-errol/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [ “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/) > [Oh, yes, we were on location with Another Man's Poison, which I wrote for Bette Davis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/oh-yes-we-were-on-location-with-another-man-s-poison-which-i-wrote/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [I'd love to play a femme fatale in a film noir. I'm thinking of one of those roles that Lauren Bacall or Bette Davis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-quick/i-d-love-to-play-a-femme-fatale-in-a-film-noir-i-m-thinking-of-one-of/) [Diana Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-quick/) > [ “\[joan crawford\] slept with every male star at MGM, except lassie. \[joan crawford\] ha dormito con ogni star maschile della MGM, eccetto lassie.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/joan-crawford-slept-with-every-male-star-at-mgm-except-lassie-joan/) [bette davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I mean, I see the old interviews with Bette Davis or Joan Crawford, these characters clawed their way up - what stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-carr/i-mean-i-see-the-old-interviews-with-bette-davis-or-joan-crawford/) [Alan Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-carr/) > [Look, you're either loved or hated. Which is a good thing, as Bette Davis used to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cantone/look-you-re-either-loved-or-hated-which-is-a-good-thing-as-bette/) [Mario Cantone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cantone/) > [It's more interesting to put yourself in the place of Bette Davis than Irene Dunne, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-busch/it-s-more-interesting-to-put-yourself-in-the-place-of-bette-davis/) [Charles Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-busch/) > [She's got Greta Garbo's standoff sighs, she's got Bette Davis eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-carnes/she-s-got-greta-garbo-s-standoff-sighs-she-s-got-bette-davis-eyes/) [Kim Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-carnes/) > [“When I heard the gunshots, though, I knew - knew beyond the shadow of a doubt - that somewhere in Los Angeles Bette Davis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-valley/when-i-heard-the-gunshots-though-i-knew-knew-beyond-the-shadow-of-a/) Richard Valley Browse all 63 Bette davis quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I only wrote two fan letters in my life. 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