Quotes By Ethel Merman

I wouldn't change one thing about my professional life, and I make it a point not to dwell on my mistakes.

At one time I smoked, but in 1959 I couldn't think of anything else to give up for Lent so I stopped-and I haven't had a cigarette since.

I have plenty of invitations to go places, lots to do. If I'm not working, I go to have my hair taken care of and work at needlepoint.

Broadway has been very good to me. But then, I've been very good to broadway.

If I feel in need of sleep, I just open a book or turn on the television. Both are better than any sleeping pill.

At a flea market I always head for the junk jewelry table first.

My father taught me to read music and play the piano-but not well, even though people have said that I'm a natural musician.

I Got Rhythm really put me on the map.

I have been ambitious to be a somebody from the time I was 5 years old.

Any audience that gets a laugh out of me gets it while I'm facing them.

Once I had all the attention, all I had to do was deliver.

I wasn't straining at the bit to become a movie star any more than I had plotted to get out of vaudeville and into Broadway musicals.

I've never cooked. I can't do much more in the kitchen than make a cup of tea and some toast.

Christmas carols always brought tears to my eyes. I also cry at weddings. I should have cried at a couple of my own.

I don't like to read. The only things I read are gossip columns. If someone gives me a book, it had better have lots of pictures.

Mom and Pop were proud of my popularity, but from their point of view, show business was no way to make a living.

Cole Porter had a worldwide reputation as a sophisticate and hedonist.

You gotta have a gimmick.

I attend surprisingly few shows. The type of theater that is popular today just doesn't appeal to me.

I'll pat myself on the back and admit I have talent. Beyond that, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Music, in the past few years... anything singable or understandable is square.

Everything's coming up roses - for me.

I work as often as I want and yet I'm free as a bird.

I preferred delivering my performance in person. I liked to be in control. You couldn't be in films.

I've made a wonderful living playing that theatrical character - the professional brassy dame.

Legend has it that when God created me, he gave me a big distinctive voice, a lot of boldness and no heart.

There have been people who have tried to take advantage of me. They want to be linked to me just because I'm Ethel Merman.

Always give them the old fire, even when you feel like a squashed cake of ice.

Mom claimed that I could carry a tune at 2 or 3 years of age. Maybe she was a little prejudiced.

Cole Porter wrote Anything Goes and four more hits for me.