“Actors are always being asked to speak. Sometimes there is a well-honed script, often there is not. But we are well-practised in the art of words and the power of their meaning. We know when to project and when to stay silent. We understand better than most that the pen is mightier than the sword. We live it.”

English actress, comedian and columnist

Dame Maureen Lipman is an English actress, comedian and columnist. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has worked across stage and screen. Her career has been associated with British theatre and public commentary, and she was made a dame in 2020 for services to charity, entertainment and the arts. Her stage work has included appearances with the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is also known as a columnist, and her public voice has combined performance, wit and opinion. The 101 quotes on this site reflect that broad public presence rather than a single field alone.