Harvey Fierstein > Quotes

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“I just want to be loved, is that so wrong?!”
― Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy

“The real point is that you cannot harbor malice toward others and then cry foul when someone displays intolerance against you. Prejudice tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in righteousness when you witness the words and deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to rise up against them all, including your own. Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of disrespect silently.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“Accept no one's definition of your life, define yourself.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“I do believe we're all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“I am thinking about how it feels to be a no one in the life of someone you love.”
― Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy

“See, an ugly person who goes after a pretty person gets nothing but trouble. But a pretty person who goes after an ugly person gets at least cab-fare.”
― Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy

“Just because I said that's what I want doesn't mean that's what I want. I mean, that's what I want but that doesn't mean that I'm necessarily ready for it.”
― Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy

“There comes a time in every Salome's life when she should no longer be dropping the last veil.”
― Harvey Fierstein, La Cage Aux Folles Sheet Music

“Well, I always looked at Mulan as a movie about a lesbian coming out.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“Please, people, do not fuck with depression. It's merciless. All it wants is to get you in a room alone and kill you. Take care of yourself.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“The great thing about suicide is that it’s not one of those things you have to do now or you lose your chance. I mean, you can always do it later.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“(...) I've always thought of myself as a kind person. Not saintly but generously thoughtful (in a bitchy sort of way). (...)”
― Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“Now, I ain't saying you should only date sane men (I don't want to kill off all the fish in the poluted sea), but at least find one who's willing to fight on his own.”
― Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy

“Never be bullied into silence, never be allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“Funny how that is. The jockey never recalls using a whip. The horse never forgets”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

“when we excuse homophobia as a matter of opinion instead of treating it as a destructive social illness, we invite fear to explode into violence…If we are ever to scrape the black rot of prejudice from the heart of our nation, we must stop excusing those who give it expression and even excuse. The next time someone dares to say, “Just because I don’t approve of homosexuality doesn’t make me a bigot,” we must all answer back, “Yes, it does. Not only does it make you a bigot, it makes you a criminal, a danger to me, my family, my community, my city, and my country.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“Nunca seas intimidado en el silencio.
Nunca te permitas ser una víctima.
Acepta que nadie tiene la definición de tu vida.
Defínela tú mismo.”
― Harvey Fierstein

“nothing changes when you say no, so say yes and let the world know you’re open to possibility.”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

“There is a red line of intimacy that’s been crossed. Exes know things about each other that friends never could. You’ve altered each other’s emotional DNA. You can be friendly with an ex, but exes cannot be friends.”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

“(...) When things get too good... I get out. Well. I guess to a degree we all do. But most pull out; ride off into the sunset with a wave and a wink and a "Heigh-o-Silver." But not me. I am a pusher. I nudge and kvetch and cry and demand until I leave my partner no possible alternative but for him to run for his life. (...)”
― Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy

“Damned Elmer's Glue! Just let me finish emasculating this eye and I'll be right with you.”
― Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy

“Twelve Step programs counsel "Look back, but don't stare." Wonder why? Because it's fucking painful!”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

“Did I mention the gold piercing of a snake he had through the head of his penis? I'd never seen one before. I asked what you were supposed to do with it. And he said, "Start by making friends.”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

“I do believe we're all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other.

Harvey Fierstein”
― Harvey Fierstein

“You can’t camp about something you don’t take seriously. You’re not making fun of it. You’re making fun out of it.”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

“Another fun fact about that getaway. They had you wait for your evening massage in a romantically lit hot tub room. One evening another gentleman joined me in the warm waters. It was none other than singer-scribe James Taylor. Obviously I didn't want to bother him but I'm such a fan. So, as I was called away for my massage, I quickly said, "Not meaning to disturb you but I have to say that the mere sound of your voice gives me goosebumps. And as long as I'm doling out compliments, that's a really nice penis you got there.”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

“Reagan didn’t speak the word “AIDS” publicly for five years. He taught us a reality that had always been staring us in the face: a politician’s first priority is to get reelected. Second is to fund-raise. Third is to protect his party. Caring about a disease that is killing a small unpopular minority ranks somewhere below hosting Icelandic dignitaries at the White House.”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

“We humans are no more mysterious to surgeons than toilets are to plumbers. The cardiologist that the valve replacement was routine and I believed him. He gave me a choice between pig, cow, and manufactured. How serious could this be if it involved shopping?”
― Harvey Fierstein, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir