--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming…" description: "\"Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, ap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/scott-stossel-12031_anxiety_barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming_101105.png" --- # Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance… ![“Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, appearing live only in private clubs and at charity events, where she presumably believed the pressure on her was less intense.” quote by Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/scott-stossel-12031_anxiety_barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming_101105.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/scott-stossel-12031_anxiety_barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming_101105.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/scott-stossel-12031_anxiety_barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming_101105.png) > “Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, appearing live only in private clubs and at charity events, where she presumably believed the pressure on her was less intense.” [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even highly successful performers can develop crippling anxiety, leading them to withdraw from public exposure despite continued private engagement. **In simple terms:** Success doesn’t immunize against performance anxiety. Key Takeaway Anxiety can force retreat from public stages. Themes anxiety performance celebrity mental health Mood empathetic somber Type narrative cautionary When to use this quote - actor avoiding award shows - executive skipping keynote speeches - musician limiting concerts Key Concepts social pressure self‑expectation Practical Applications - Seek professional therapy for anxiety - Gradually re‑expose to feared situations Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help transition from private to public performance? - How does chronic anxiety affect creative output? A Different Perspective Avoidance may protect short‑term comfort but can limit career growth and personal fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [27 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/27-years-511769/) [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Appearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearing/) [Barbra streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbra-streisand/) [Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Developed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developed/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/) [General public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-public/) [Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/height/) [Her](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/her/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Overwhelming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelming/) [Perform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perform/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Performance anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-anxiety/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Presumably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presumably/) [Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private/) [Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public/) [Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refused/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streisand/) [Streisand Developed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streisand-developed-1226374/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Look at the insane things the Jews believe. The Jews believe that Barbra Streisand is worth $1,000 bucks a ticket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-giraldo/look-at-the-insane-things-the-jews-believe-the-jews-believe-that/) [Greg Giraldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-giraldo/) > [Seeing Jennifer Holliday from 'Dreamgirls' perform on the Tony Awards telecast and later discovering Barbra Streisand by listening to her albums at the Carnegie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-porter/seeing-jennifer-holliday-from-dreamgirls-perform-on-the-tony-awards/) [Billy Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-porter/) > [On a personal level, as a Christian, it will not be Barbra Streisand I'm standing in front of when I have to make an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/on-a-personal-level-as-a-christian-it-will-not-be-barbra-streisand-i/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [I will never be Barbra Streisand, but I have done an awful lot more than what I was sent out to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbi-benton/i-will-never-be-barbra-streisand-but-i-have-done-an-awful-lot-more/) [Barbi Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbi-benton/) > [Phil Ramone is very special. Barbra Streisand or Diana Ross... they are the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/phil-ramone-is-very-special-barbra-streisand-or-diana-ross-they-are/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [Barbra Streisand has accomplished so much, and Dustin Hoffman as well. They are down to earth and approachable. I admire that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/barbra-streisand-has-accomplished-so-much-and-dustin-hoffman-as-well/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [You knew the difference between Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, straight away. Now everyone sounds like each other, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-womack/you-knew-the-difference-between-barbra-streisand-and-aretha-franklin/) [Bobby Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-womack/) > [I only ever wanted to be Barbra Streisand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-ball/i-only-ever-wanted-to-be-barbra-streisand/) [Zoe Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-ball/) > [I really enjoy watching people like Madonna, or Cher, or Barbra Streisand on the red carpet. I want to see people wearing exciting things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-really-enjoy-watching-people-like-madonna-or-cher-or-barbra/) [Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/) > [As far as entertainers, I know I'll sound like a cliché but they don't make 'em, like they use to. Barbra Streisand is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-panaro/as-far-as-entertainers-i-know-i-ll-sound-like-a-clich-but-they-don-t/) [Hugh Panaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-panaro/) > [Barbra Streisand, for one, is one of my idols. I've listened to her since I was a little kid - the first album I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idina-menzel/barbra-streisand-for-one-is-one-of-my-idols-i-ve-listened-to-her/) [Idina Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idina-menzel/) > [Acting, musicals, bringing out an album - not many people have done that. Anthony Newley, Barbra Streisand?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-ovenden/acting-musicals-bringing-out-an-album-not-many-people-have-done-that/) [Julian Ovenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-ovenden/) > [There is a reason that both have had the longevity in their careers that they have had. They have each done very different things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brightman/there-is-a-reason-that-both-have-had-the-longevity-in-their-careers/) [Sarah Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brightman/) > [“You've got to discover you, what you do, and trust it." Barbra Streisand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-purman/you-ve-got-to-discover-you-what-you-do-and-trust-it-barbra-streisand/) [Victoria Purman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-purman/) > [I love Barbra Streisand. Anybody who knows me knows I just love her, love her, love her!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-london/i-love-barbra-streisand-anybody-who-knows-me-knows-i-just-love-her/) [Lauren London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-london/) ## More by Scott Stossel > [“According to recent epidemiological data, the “lifetime incidence” of anxiety disorder is more than 25 percent—which, if true, means that one in four of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/according-to-recent-epidemiological-data-the-lifetime-incidence-of/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [I wanted to put a human face on anxiety disorders. I thought people who suffer from anxiety might recognize themselves and gain some comfort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/i-wanted-to-put-a-human-face-on-anxiety-disorders-i-thought-people/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [All the textbooks talk about avoidance as a classic hallmark of anxiety disorder. So you need a therapist who is sympathetic and understanding but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/all-the-textbooks-talk-about-avoidance-as-a-classic-hallmark-of/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [During high school, I would purposely lose tennis and squash matches to escape the agony of anxiety that competitive situations would provoke in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/during-high-school-i-would-purposely-lose-tennis-and-squash-matches/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [“The truth is that anxiety is at once a function of biology and philosophy, body and mind, instinct and reason, personality and culture. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/the-truth-is-that-anxiety-is-at-once-a-function-of-biology-and/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [It's possible that I would have been better suited to being a penguin keeper. Starting out, I thought being a writer would enable me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/it-s-possible-that-i-would-have-been-better-suited-to-being-a-penguin/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [Generally speaking, the anxiety will pass, which is easy for me to say when I'm not in the middle of an anxiety attack. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/generally-speaking-the-anxiety-will-pass-which-is-easy-for-me-to-say/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [I have, since the age of about 2, been a twitchy bundle of phobias, fears, and neuroses. And I have, since the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/i-have-since-the-age-of-about-2-been-a-twitchy-bundle-of-phobias/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [When I was 5 and my sister was 3, we went on a family trip, and she ate cheese off the floor at an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/when-i-was-5-and-my-sister-was-3-we-went-on-a-family-trip-and-she-ate/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [People who suffer from anxiety are very good at hiding it. That can often be a contributor to the anxiety because the gap between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/people-who-suffer-from-anxiety-are-very-good-at-hiding-it-that-can/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [“Studies of the DSM-II found that when two psychiatrists consulted the same patient, they gave the same DSM diagnosis only between 32 and 42…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/studies-of-the-dsm-ii-found-that-when-two-psychiatrists-consulted-the/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [An astonishing portion of my life is built around trying to evade vomiting and preparing for the eventuality that I might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/an-astonishing-portion-of-my-life-is-built-around-trying-to-evade/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [“Hippocrates, the ancient Greek doctor, concluded in the fourth century B.C. that pathological anxiety was a straightforward biological and medical problem. “If you cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/hippocrates-the-ancient-greek-doctor-concluded-in-the-fourth-century/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [I am living on the razor's edge between success and failure, adulation and humiliation - between justifying my existence and revealing my unworthiness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/i-am-living-on-the-razor-s-edge-between-success-and-failure-adulation/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [Even though my mom herself was anxious, I think she didn't know how to deal with it in her kid, and my dad just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/even-though-my-mom-herself-was-anxious-i-think-she-didn-t-know-how-to/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) [Explore all 56 Scott Stossel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, appearing live only in private clubs and at charity events, where she presumably believed the pressure on her was less intense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Stossel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming-performance-anxiety-at-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming-performance-anxiety-at-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/scott-stossel-12031_anxiety_barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming_101105.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/scott-stossel-12031_anxiety_barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming_101105.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/scott-stossel-12031_anxiety_barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming_101105.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she…” — Scott Stossel", "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": "Scott Stossel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming-performance-anxiety-at-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming-performance-anxiety-at-the/#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 } } ] } ```