Elia Kazan Quotes

Just seeing people appreciate what you do, come out and support it, and sing the songs back, there's not a better feeling in the world.

The applause was so loud and insistent that I had to respond with several encores. I was numb with happiness, when it was over, I knew that this alone must be my life and my world.

I love that synergy between being entertainers and having people respond. There's no greater reward.

It's a feeling I can't describe, to see my work in action. The best is when an artist is appreciative.

It's gratifying to see people come up to me and thank me for entertaining them.

I'm glad that I'm able to entertain and be a part of people watching shows and enjoying the work.

If you love something - and there are things that I love - you do want more and more and more of it, but that's not the way to produce good work.

As an actor, I never go back and look at my work, anyway. The satisfaction comes in the doing.

When you're a performer, of course you want an audience, but it's very, very different from courting fame.

People know I have a good time on stage. I love my life. I love my job.

There are people who've enjoyed my work in the theater, and they let me know that it was special for them. I'm not going to say, 'Well, you should have seen me as Gandalf!'

If I'm bringing joy to people and entertaining people as an actor, then I should be grateful for that and act accordingly, you know?

I love being on stage. There's nothing better than that feeling; ever since the first time I was on stage, I was like, 'Oh, this is what it means to be fully alive and satisfied.' I don't think anything's as satisfying as a play.

What's the point of doing a brilliant Hedda Gabler in my back garden if no one will ever see it?

What makes it all worthwhile is we just play for the sheer enjoyment of entertaining people and... make our families and the team we played on and the people watching, proud of what we did.

Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.

Two hours onstage... that's the best part because it makes it all worth it.

I don't sing for awards, I sing for rewards!

As a performer, I'm happy if one person gets to see the work I do, but to have lots of people see it and appreciate it, it feels good.

I was quite satisfied with my creative life. I've always had reinforcement from a small but devoted readership.

When you walk off the stage, I think the end point is that you enjoyed yourself. I get to say that almost every time - either I made a few new fans or something resonated.

When I'm getting a chance to do my job or make somebody's day, and be on stage where I love, and see all the fans having fun, you can't help but smile.

I'm just happy that people like the way I play.

There's a lot of people who don't want anything from me but to laugh and have a good time. You see them at the show and they like - they dress up to come see your show and stuff. And they pack these auditoriums and it's a lot of fun, man. It's like, this is how I started, and it's still fun for me.

I think at any point, as an artist, whatever the medium - just having an audience means the world.