Amy Poehler Quotes

The responsibility of an artist is to be honest with themselves.

My work is trying to at least define myself on my own terms, and then if other people enjoy things that's a lovely addition.

I don't really read that much stuff about myself anyways, because I feel as though you then develop this mind-set of just making sure other people would approve of your decisions.

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.

My greatest achievement is being able to write records that are real snapshots of what's going on in my life. I won't repeat myself for the sake of commerce, or to please other people.

I've found that in now having experienced what it's like to make records and just through growing up in general that you should be expressive about what's affecting you instead of trying to sing about a subject just for the sake of other people getting something from it.

I have to live authentically at all times. And that's part of what makes me an artist. I'm not scared to do that.

I have done some tacky films, but then they were all my decisions, and I'm happy to have made those because they have made me who I am.

Failure is fantastic, because you meet yourself and get to know your limitations. This is how I express myself, and I can't do it any other way.

Success is not a good teacher, failure makes you humble.

The only person who needs to know about failure is yourself.

Conventional wisdom tells us to avoid taking unalterable action while at a low point in life. I have never been conventional.

I'm sick of being self-referential. I don't want to do any more songs that can be accused of being personal.

As long as it feels valid to me and feels sincere, I'll do what I do under the moniker of Nine Inch Nails if it's appropriate. I would hate to think I would ever be in a position where I'm faking it to get a paycheck.

To maintain one's individuality, integrity, and true personality in the theatre is a big task.

We need to accept that we won't always make the right decisions, that we'll screw up royally sometimes - understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it's part of success.

I've felt this real need to ground my work in my ideals.

I decided to put my money where my mouth was and make films that I believe in. So even if I failed, I failed on my terms.

Every time I decide not to do a commercial film, a masala film, I'm closer to myself.

It doesn't matter even if I am slow or fast as long as my films are honest and carries my integrity.

I felt like a failure for so long because I wasn't able to access myself in the way I knew I would have if I was going to make music that mattered. I knew I was going to have to learn how to be honest.

I don't really care so much what people say about me because it usually is a reflection of who they are. For example, if people wish I would sound like I used to sound, then it says more about them than it does me.

It's when you are down that you learn about your faults.

Hold on to your dream. Don't let the people shake you from your dream. Don't let form become more important than the substance of your heart and mind. Don't let commerce determine what you do exclusively.

Who knows, maybe I'm just a stubborn jerk? Maybe the other people who do stuff they don't want to do, maybe they're doing the right thing. Who am I to say? I'm just doing my thing and being myself, and I've been given the incredible, fortunate opportunity to play roles that I frickin' care about and enjoy playing. And it might not last forever. That's okay. That's what it is.