Maria Semple Quotes

The story of 'Lasers' is my story. I didn't have to look too far to get subject matter for this record; it was stuff that was happening to me.

Identity has been such an explosive territory for me... so hard, so painful at times.

My act has always reflected what's going on in my life.

I can achieve that by personally relating the words that I am saying to something I have known in my life.

I just sort of write the book I feel like writing given the emotional place I am in my life at the time.

It feels weird to say there's more to me than that, like I'm being overdramatic, and a tear rolls down my cheek. But, no - I do like I feel like there's more to me than just baseball.

My writing is authentic, and whatever happens in my life is what I write about.

I'm not sure whether I've been happy. After my last book tour, I sat on my balcony with a cup of tea. I thought: 'You can't rewind the movie. I've spent more than half my life in the Middle East. There have been great moments of horror and depression and loneliness.'

People are people, and they want to know about their own experiences.

In my new book, 'Binge,' I share essays about everything I've never told my viewers - touching on the best and worst days of my life, some hilarious, some embarrassing, but all extremely personal.

I think Zippy is part of me, but I'm not Zippy.

Sometimes you have to confront your demons and sometimes even let them loose to genuinely find a place where you can gain some understanding.

There was a period when I had a hard time reconciling all the different parts of me in a way that I thought would make sense to others.

It is important to express oneself... provided the feelings are real and are taken from your own experience.

I am a very honest person, and I can only say there are moments in my life where I really did think I was being me in the sense of my morals and beliefs and the way I acted. But when I look back at certain things that I wore and my hair and make-up, I was like, 'Whoa! That wasn't me!' But I didn't know it back then.

I want the subject to be in control. Because they will give me something I couldn't possibly know about them.

I sometimes truly despair at ever being meaningfully altered and affected by the things I claim are so important to me.

Anybody can get lost in themselves.

If you're really being honest with yourself when you're acting, part of it is touching the real you. You can only separate yourself so much from the character. Those vulnerable moments do touch me.

I know how I want to operate as an artist. And that is by having an honest, genuine dialogue about this kind of screwed up journey I've had that I'm so thankful for.

Every man is crucified upon the cross of himself.

My song-writing has always been just about my life - usually my worst moments.

I have written only what I have thought through, felt through and suffered through.

There are parts of me that I keep secret even from myself. I have demons and I'd love to be able to healthily look at the demons and still be a wonderful actor and not feel I need them to create.

I'm the sort of person that doesn't really have specific 'inspiration.' It probably comes more from my doubts and my desires.