Martha Wainwright Quotes

I'm a big believer in pushing things too far and forcing people to pull you back.

If you want to keep the relationships you have, it's best not to talk about them.

I always think there's some value in saying no with a smile.

I know people are saying they like you. I'm not being insulted or pushed around or anything. People are coming up because they like me. Nevertheless, I can't be everybody's...none of us can. I hate saying no to people.

I don't do quagmires.

I've spent my life navigating through sensitive issues. Not wanting to upset people.

If you don't have those moments where you go too far, then you're probably not going far enough.

It's not precisely that I'm not ambitious. I love what I do, and I love doing it, and I love getting better at it. I just am not willing to risk... much... to go on to the next level.

People seem to think that you should be willing to speak to them whether they're jerks or not.

It was actually the enormous risks I took with my pictures, skating right up to the edge of non-acceptance, that paid off so handsomely.

I am somebody who... - I'm not saying I'm perfect, but I need that freedom, that ability to make mistakes out there. Because there's a fine line between making a mistake or being brilliant.

People take things too personally - I don't. If someone says something about me, I let it go. But unfortunately, everyone isn't like that. So I'm trying to be more diplomatic - but people always want a headline from me!

I'm not strong-willed enough or unkind enough... or maybe simply not wise enough to tell a journalist that a subject is out of bounds.

I think the thing I had to be careful about while writing a book was not to say anything that was revealing about other people that they would be uncomfortable with. I didn't want to make people angry - that's a real risk.

Pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable - to me, that's something I'm definitely interested in and want to pursue.

I know what my comfort zones are. But without a back-up, I will never step out of my comfort zone. I don't go bungee jumping; I won't jump from the third floor without a safety net. I don't do such things. That's not my personality type.

I don't want to push the envelope. Let the envelope stay in the middle of the table. I'll just make you laugh.

People get in fights because they don't communicate, because you don't want to hurt the other person.

When I was younger I probably didn't understand something basic about tact, but I think it kept faint-hearted people at arm's distance and that's not such a bad thing, because life is short and I know the kind of people I want to work with.

It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them.

Always be prudent but never hesitant.

Never contradict anybody.

My focus has always been: I can be an incredibly conservative, principled idea person, but that doesn't mean I have to shout at people.

It's good to step out of the box, but don't step out so far that you can't get back in.

It's not my character to up and challenge anyone.