A biography for Constantin Stanislavskihasn’t been written yet.
“Remember: there are no small parts, only small actors.”
“The main factor in any form of creativeness is the life of a human spirit, that of the actor and his part, their joint feelings and subconscious creation.”
“Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art.”
“Our demands are simple, normal, and therefore they are difficult to satisfy. All we ask is that an actor on the stage live in accordance with natural laws.”
“Do not try to push your way through to the front ranks of your profession; do not run after distinctions and rewards; but do your utmost to find an entry into the world of beauty.”
“We have as many planes of speech as does a painting planes of perspective which create perspective in a phrase. The most important word stands out most vividly defined in the very foreground of the sound plane. Less important words create a series of deeper planes.”
“The greatest wisdom is to realize one's lack of it.”
“Talent is nothing but a prolonged period of attention and a shortened period of mental assimilation.”
“Create your own method. Don't depend slavishly on mine. Make up something that will work for you! But keep breaking traditions, I beg you.”
“Unless the theatre can ennoble you, make you a better person, you should flee from it.”