In nearly all ballads, the words set the mood and meaning, while the music intensifies or enhances them.

I shall always respect the composer. If I embellish, it is his idea I am embellishing.

I have never known stage-fright at any time.

I am harder on myself than anyone else could be.

Because of my voice, speaking words which had been carefully chosen, women had used money they had set aside for other purposes to buy war bonds.

I am continually embarrassed by people who point me out as an example of what can be done without training.

In 29 years, I had recorded over 2,200 songs. I was amazed.

Most of the people who act and sing do so for their own pleasure and that of their friends and family.

My singing is part of me, like my stoutness, or my light hair, or my poor eyesight.

I just can’t read music.

Every small town has its dramatic group, its barber-shop quartet, every home has music in one form or another.

It became obvious in 1957 that I was endangering my health by carrying so much weight.

I could not separate myself off stage from myself on stage, as so many actors can.

I have always examined closely the motives of any group for which I am asked to raise money.

I know I’m fat and I know my hair is straight, but I can sing.

Many people submit to excessive appetites without realizing that they do not need to eat so much food.

I have personally believed in every product I have ever advertised.

Ice cream was my undoing, and six chocolate milk shakes in a row were nothing to me at one time.

In nearly all ballads, the words set the mood and meaning, while the music intensifies or enhances them.

It is important that the audience should understand every syllable of every word, for only then can they grasp the meaning of the song.

I could see myself in a white nurse’s uniform, working unnoticed for many years and at last dying, unknown, unmarried and unsung.

Public and employer opinion often defeat society’s best interests with a prejudice against middle-aged women.

There’s no second chance on stage, and I was trained to make the most of my first chance.

During the presidential primaries of 1940, I received a request from the Democratic National Committee to sing God Bless America before the speeches.

I must work hard to make my singing above reproach; there must be no faults which hard work would take care of.

I have been extremely lucky with reviewers and critics throughout my career.

If rock-and-roll is well done, there’s nothing so terribly wrong with that kind of music. But the lyrics are another story.

As soon as I began to earn what might be called fairly large sums, I bought a car and began to explore the country around New York.

An entertainer should in his public performance keep himself out of any controversy, political or otherwise.

I vowed that whenever my family needed me, I would give up everything to go to them, no matter what. The show must go on was meaningless to me.

I was always daydreaming about singing in big productions on Broadway.

I learn my songs by ear.

This nation loves singing and loves acting.

I am exceedingly lucky that my voice, along with perfect pitch and perfect rhythm, was given me at birth.

Since I have been singing for so many years, I don’t always need to approach a song quite so laboriously and meticulously.

It’s up to the audience. It always has been.

Middle-aged women have greater stability, they are more loyal, and their capacity for steady work is greater than that of younger women.

I sometimes get that wonderful sympathy between me and the audience, telling me I’ve reached their hearts. And when I do, the thrill is mine.

Intelligent analysis of the composer’s intention and strict adherence to it automatically ensures sincerity.