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Actors Quote by T.S. Eliot

“Gus is the Cat at the Theatre Door. His name, as I ought to have told you before, Is really Asparagus. That's such a fuss To pronounce, that we usually call him just Gus. His coat's very shabby, he's thin as a rake, And he suffers from palsy that makes his paw shake. Yet he was, in his youth…” quote by T.S. Eliot
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““Gus is the Cat at the Theatre Door. His name, as I ought to have told you before, Is really Asparagus. That's such a fuss To pronounce, that we usually call him just Gus. His coat's very shabby, he's thin as a rake, And he suffers from palsy that makes his paw shake. Yet he was, in his youth, quite the smartest of Cats — But no longer a terror to mice or to rats. For he isn't the Cat that he was in his prime; Though his name was quite famous, he says, in his time. And whenever he joins his friends at their club (which takes place at the back of the neighbouring pub) He loves to regale them, if someone else pays, With anecdotes drawn from his palmiest days. For he once was a Star of the highest degree — He has acted with Irving, he's acted with Tree. And he likes to relate his success on the Halls, Where the Gallery once gave him seven cat-calls. But his grandest creation, as he loves to tell, Was Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.””

T.S. Eliot

About This Quote

Source Poem: Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, 1939

A whimsical portrait of an aging, once‑renowned cat whose fame has faded but who still boasts about past glories.

In simple terms: An old cat reminisces about his past fame and current frailty.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humility and cherish memories.

Themes

humor nostalgia aging identity storytelling

Mood

playful reflective

Type

literary character humorous

When to use this quote

  • theatre performances
  • pub gatherings
  • elderly pet care
  • personal reminiscence

Key Concepts

character study self‑deception celebration of past

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance pride in past achievements with current reality?
  • What can we learn from aging performers?
A Different Perspective

May overlook present needs in favor of past glory.

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