Mary Stuart Masterson Quotes

I'm just going to write my books and do my work and release it. Let the world decide what it is, and if it's any good or not.

I don't read reviews. I find them very distracting, whether they're good or bad.

I never want to be in a position where I have to defend my material. It's too subjective. It's for other people to defend or not defend.

To pay attention to flattery or criticism is a waste of time for artists.

Why are women immobile? Because so many feel like they're waiting for someone to say, 'You're good, you're pretty, I give you permission.'

I had just started ninth grade when I got my acne. And I had braces. I wouldn't look people in the eye. It was not a good time for me - it just killed my self-esteem. I thought when I didn't look at someone, they couldn't see my face.

I'm not the kind of person that seeks out other people's opinions on my works.

If I spent my time worrying about what other people would think of my work, I would be too self-conscious to write.

Some people think I'm a total moron and I would hope most people think I'm very good at what I do.

I was really shy when I was a child, very self-conscious about taking up space or being an attention seeker. I was the kind of kid who was really good at homework.

I always appreciate people's opinions, but sometimes I have to take a step back and remember why I'm writing and what I want to do with it. Shutting out the voices is difficult but it's been good for me.

You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose.

For your own self-respect and sanity, your creative freedom, you have to be careful that you don't rely too much on other people's opinions of what you do because it can stunt and inhibit you.

When I sit down to write, I don't think, 'OK, what is the next David O. Russell film I can write, or what is Harvey Weinstein going to want to buy?' Or even, 'What are filmgoers going to want.' I try to think, tell a good story. Just do what you do.

If people think I look good, it's the make-up.

Actresses can get outrageously precious about the way they look. That's not what life's about. If you starve yourself to the point where your brain cells shrivel, you will never do good work. And if you're overly conscious of your arms flapping in the wind, how can you look the other actor in the eye to respond to them?

I try to forget about the expectation that's out there and the audience listening for the next thing so that I'm not trying to please them. I've spent a huge amount of time not communicating with those folks and denying that they exist.

An audience is always warming but it must never be necessary to your work.

It's always a good idea to let the audience make up their own minds.

I know what I'm good at, and if I'm asked to do something I'm not - like hip-hop dancing - I get self-conscious.

I know I'm not gonna please everybody when I make a record. I don't let that affect any of my decisions.

I don't want my reputation to take me over, I just want to be judged on my songs. I want people to come and see me because they want to, not because fashion dictates it.

I'm not particularly needy, and I'm not particularly anxious. I don't look for a director to tell me I'm doing a good job or that I'm great. I don't need to be stroked. It's more my own yardstick.

It's OK to joke about yourself and have self-perspective, but, like, when you constantly put yourself down to get other people to tell you you're good, that annoys me. Have confidence!

The writer knows his own worth, and to be overvalued can confuse and destroy him as an artist.