Ethel Merman Quotes - Page 2

Cole Porter had a worldwide reputation as a sophisticate and hedonist

Music, in the past few years... anything singable or understandable is square.

Eisenhower was my war hero and the President I admire and respect most

The only things I read are gossip columns. If I read three pages of a book, I'm out like a light. When I pick up the book again, I've forgotten what I've read and have to start over again. By page three, even if I've just awakened from a nine -hour nap, I fall asleep again. So if anyone gives me a book, it had better have lots of pictures.

I have been ambitious to be a somebody from the time I was 5 years old

I attend surprisingly few shows. The type of theater that is popular today just doesn't appeal to me.

Cole Porter wrote Anything Goes and four more hits for me

I wasn't straining at the bit to become a movie star any more than I had plotted to get out of vaudeville and into Broadway musicals

I'll admit - I was honored to be on the cover of Time

I work as often as I want and yet I'm free as a bird

Of my four marriages, the one to Bob Levitt is the only one I don't regret

Mom claimed that I could carry a tune at 2 or 3 years of age. Maybe she was a little prejudiced.

I preferred delivering my performance in person. I liked to be in control. You couldn't be in films.

My beloved Mom and Pop always rated tops with each other, and that's the way it will always be

Legend has it that when God created me, he gave me a big distinctive voice, a lot of boldness and no heart.

Once I had the attention, all I had to do was deliver.

My father taught me to read music and play the piano-but not well, even though people have said that I'm a natural musician

Everything's coming up roses - for me.

I have plenty of invitations to go places, lots to do. If I'm not working, I go to have my hair taken care of and work at needlepoint

My career at Warner Brothers consisted of one musical short subject. I was running around in a bear skin. Very chic.

In my case, things have pretty much been handed to me

If I feel in need of sleep, I just open a book or turn on the television. Both are better than any sleeping pill.

Mom and Pop were proud of my popularity, but from their point of view, show business was no way to make a living.

The slapdash way producers used to assemble a show seems a little unbelievable when we talk about them now

I was lucky enough to have the songs in my first show written by George and Ira Gershwin. Then Cole Porter wrote five shows for me