Meg Ryan quotes: on the pros and cons of being famous, mommyhood, being judged on social media, acting vs. directing and more.
“It’s triumphant for someone to wake up to life. I feel a tremendous sense of liberation. You want to be able to use both your intuitive side and your go-get-’em side with no blame.”
“People are always telling me that change is good. But all that means is that something you didn’t want to happen has happened.”
“Any idiot can be brave, but courage is about knowing what’s at stake, and moving forward anyway.”
“I think there’s an ongoing effort involved in trying to get a bigger perspective, trying to let go of things that limit your capacity to love and be loved or your capacity to hear and to really speak.”
“If you empower women, you can change the world.”
“Once women find a way to form community, everyone reaps the rewards.”
“When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.”
“Raising a kid takes a lot of time. But I’m lucky because I can go places like a TED conference. I can go to Cambodia and travel around. I’m writing. I’m hoping to direct. I have a passion for design. I take pictures.”
“I don’t think we realize just how fast we go until you stop for a minute and realize just how loud and how hectic your life is, and how easily distracted you can get.”
“We all get in a way of doing things, organizing our days – and working mothers do have to be organized – but you have to indulge in breakouts.”
“Motherhood changed me because it is so fundamental what you’re doing for another person. And you are able to do it even though it takes a lot. There’s always a place for change and I needed it in the my work and in my life. It’s working for me.”
“I wouldn’t have thought of myself as a person who could guide anybody and then it turned out that I can. Not that I’m perfect but it turns out I have answers to some of the questions. I guess I did feel I was a little bit over my head but I finally feel like I have experience I can call on, that I can be a voice of experience in the room.”
“Becoming a mother helped give me the confidence to move into other areas. I felt so capable as a mother which is something I never thought I would be. And that invaded other parts of my life. I felt like: listen, I can do this.”
“Acting is what I do. It’s not what I solely define myself as.”
“It would be really great if people would realize that stars are only people with the same weaknesses and flaws, not immaculate idols.”
“Fame is also a test of character at times. Sometimes I pass the test; sometimes I’m a pain in the ass. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Oh, God! I just want to buy some tampons!'”
“You’re at a disadvantage as a young, famous person because you don’t know who’s telling you the truth. I’m not complaining – there are so many advantages to being famous – but there are fundamental disadvantages for a part of your brain, your self, your soul. My experiences were too limited.”
“I am a terrible celebrity. If I started my career today, I wouldn’t have a chance. It’s a totally different experience. Social media has changed things. It’s so vast and big. I couldn’t handle the constant attention and the judging – but some aspects of social media are wonderful. People can speak directly to their audience, and they don’t have to get interpreted. That’s pretty great.”
“I don’t feel like I have quotes around myself and labeled as a celebrity when I’m walking around during the day. I can be myself. With New Yorkers, I’m talking about how the weather sucks or how cool that parade was and I feel really proud of that. I’m a citizen, and I didn’t have to give up my life.”
“All this ‘nothing’ has meant more to me than so many somethings.”
“I have gotten to do what I guess I secretly wanted to do: be totally under the radar and live my life.”
“Once you do it, you get the bug. I like the behind-the-scenes thing. I really do. Acting for a while was really fun and it still is – but directing is something even more.”
“When I was younger I used to wonder if I was living life the way I should be. I used to worry that I was off on the wrong tangent, that the road I should be on was over there. Now I look at myself, at my life, my marriage, our child, and I say with some disbelief: ‘You are doing okay.'”
“Oh, I’m so inadequate. And I love myself! I love the person I’ve become, the one I’ve evolved into. In my life, I’ve been scrappy as hell, but I feel easy with things now.”
“I have a very good life, so I have nothing to complain about. Sometimes, I just have existential angst.”
Related: Tom Hanks quotes.
