Catherine Drinker Bowen Quotes

I speak the truth not so much as I would, but as much as I dare, and I dare a little more as I grow older.

The truth won't set us free - until we develop the skills and the habit and the talent and the moral courage to use it.

Prudent people are very happy; 'tis an exceeding fine thing, that's certain, but I was born without it, and shall retain to my day of Death the Humour of saying what I think.

The woman over 50 must be very frank with herself.

We can judge our progress by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers, our willingness to embrace what is true rather than what feels good.

It's no use growing older if you only learn new ways of misbehaving yourself.

I've learned to trust myself, to listen to truth, to not be afraid of it and to not try and hide it.

I am a humble but very earnest seeker after truth.

A man is original when he speaks the truth that has always been known to all good men.

Seek not greatness, but seek truth and you will find both.

The man who cannot endure to have his errors and shortcomings brought to the surface and made known, but tries to hide them, is unfit to walk the highway of truth.

A nice person is a 'yes' person, whereas a good person is a person who accepts their responsibility in things and moves forward and tries to constantly evolve and isn't afraid to say no or challenge someone or be honest or truthful.

I feel like I've reached an age where I can relax a little bit with the knowledge of what I've been through, take all that experience and use it. I love the challenge of trying to get back to where I've been, and beyond it.

I don't feel like I need to tell any lies. You get to an age where you get tired of hiding behind whatever people think is correct. You just say what you have to say, and if they don't like it, it's OK.

I feel - as I'm edging to my thirties, I feel like a stronger person and a more confident person.

As I grow older, I realise that just because I'm so obsessed with the truth, it doesn't mean that everyone else in my life is equally comfortable with it.

My frankness has got me into a lot of trouble. I try to temper it down now. As you get older, you get wiser.

O sir, you are old; nature in you stands on the very verge of her confine; you should be ruled and led by some discretion, that discerns your fate better than you yourself.

One of the blessings of maturity is that it sometimes brings one greater courage to be truthful, regardless of what those who do not understand may think or say

In fact, I am so happy to be turning 40 and finally having a reason to take responsibility for my own behavior. It's also worked for me in terms of my physical appearance and emotional make-up and people entrusting me to bring the things a role deserves. I don't know whether that's depth or being a curmudgeon or what.

As you get older your willingness to tell more of the truth is awakened and you don't have to think about it or imagine it because now you know this to be true.

There is only one real failure in life that is possible, and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.

I just don't think that I could be the kind of actor I want to be and not be honest with myself. Honesty is very important to me as an actor and as a person. I didn't even think about it.

I'm far more comfortable in my 40s than I ever was.

The most useful piece of learning for the uses of life is to unlearn what is untrue.