Showmanship Quotes

• We must get the American public to look past the glitter, beyond the showmanship, to the reality, the hard substance of things. And we'll do it not so much with speeches that will bring people to their feet as with speeches that bring people to their senses.

  Mario Cuomo

  Past, Reality, Feet

  1984 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address, delivered 16 July 1984, San Francisco, CA

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• Personality is essential. It is in every work of art. When someone walks on stage for a performance and has charisma, everyone is convinced that he has personality. I find that charisma is merely a form of showmanship. Movie stars usually have it. A politician has to have it.

  Lukas Foss

  Art, Stars, Personality

  76 Copy quote

• Everybody has forgotten about showmanship. People don't look like rock stars any more. They just look like regular dudes off the street.

  Vince Neil

  Stars, Rocks, People

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• My strong point is not rhetoric , it isn't showmanship, it isn't big promises - those things that create the glamour and the excitement that people call charisma and warmth.

  Richard M. Nixon

  Strong, People, Promise

  Nixon, Richard M. (1974). “Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1972”, p.12, Best Books on

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  The secret of showmanship consists not of what you really do, but what the mystery-loving public thinks you do.

  Harry Houdini

  Thinking, Secret, Mystery

  Harry Houdini (2016). “The Unmasking of Robert-Houdini”, p.247, Library of Alexandria

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• Merely stating a truth isn't enough. The truth has to be made vivid, interesting, dramatic. You have to use showmanship.

  Dale Carnegie

  Truth, Interesting, Use

  Dale Carnegie (2010). “How To Win Friends and Influence People”, p.182, Simon and Schuster

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• Any man who would change the World in a significant way must have showmanship, a genial willingness to shed other people's blood, and a plausible new religion to introduce during the brief period of repentance and horror that usually follows bloodshed.

  Kurt Vonnegut

  Men, Blood, People

  Kurt Vonnegut (2007). “The Sirens of Titan”, p.176, Dial Press

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• I wonder now whether inner coldness and desolation may not be the pre-condition for making the world believe, by a kind of fraudulent showmanship, that one's own wretched heart is still aglow.

  W. G. Sebald

  Believe, Heart, World

  W. G. Sebald (2016). “The Rings of Saturn”, p.51, New Directions Publishing

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• The whole showmanship is NOT to answer every question.

  Roman Polanski

  Answers, Whole

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• In modern times, what impresses one is not a simple and unassuming statement of the truth, but superficial showmanship and display.

  Nirmala Srivastava

  Love, Wisdom, Yoga

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• Pop is a little bit theatrical. That's the whole vibe. That's the point - is that it's great music, great melodies, great hooks. But, on top of it, it's a presentation. There's a showmanship about it. And that's why I wanted to be a pop star.

  Adam Lambert

  Stars, Hook, Littles

  9 Copy quote

• Leadership is neither showmanship nor dictatorship. Leadership is a stewardship and a partnership.

  Rick Warren

  Advice, Stewardship, Partnership

  FaceBook post by Pastor Rick Warren from May 13, 2013

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• Whosoever assumes a religious garb pleases not God even a bit. O ye men, understand this clearly in your minds, that God is attained not through showmanship. They who practice deceit, attain not Deliverance in the Hereafter. They do so only to accomplish the affairs of the world and even the kings worship them for their appearance! But through showmanship, God is attained not, howsoever one searches. He who subdues his mind alone recognizes the Transcendent God.

  Guru Gobind Singh

  Religious, Kings, Men

  314 Copy quote

• During my boxing career, you did not see the real Muhammad Ali. You just saw a little boxing and a little showmanship. It was after I retired from boxing that my true work began.

  Muhammad Ali

  Real, Careers, Boxing

  FaceBook post by Muhammad Ali from Jun 11, 2014

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• Wine snobbery, of course, is part showmanship, part sophistication, part knowledge, and part bluff

  Leonard Bernstein

  Wine, Bluffs, Sophistication

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• Our priests and presidents, our surgeons and lawyers, our educators and newscasters need worry less about satisfying the demands of their discipline than the demands of good showmanship.

  Neil Postman

  Worry Less, Discipline, President

  Neil Postman (2005). “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business”, p.98, Penguin

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• Like the theater, offering food and hospitality to people is a matter of showmanship, and no matter how simple the performance, unless you do it well, with love and originality, you have a flop on your hands.

  James Beard

  Simple, Offering, Hands

  James Beard (2015). “Delights and Prejudices”, p.212, Open Road Media

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• In our national discourse and in pursuing our national agenda, we must never leave anyone behind. We must reach out to the many who may have been disaffected and left confused by political games, deceit and showmanship. The people first must transcend every level of society.

  Najib Razak

  Confused, Games, People

  "Quotable quotes from Najib". New Srtaits Times, July 11, 2009.

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• I would want to be known as a great singer; that the records I've made and the performances that I've done to be remembered. But the voice is the most important thing. The showmanship goes along with it. But I want to be remembered for my vocal ability.

  Tom Jones

  Voice, Important, Done

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• Decorating in relation to hotels is really nothing more than planned showmanship or the art of attracting attention in a delightful way and thus creating an increased consumer acceptance. It gives the guest the feeling of anticipation, excitement, expectancy, delight, and pride in the management of his favorit hotel.

  Dorothy Draper

  Art, Pride, Acceptance

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• I heard there were two local guys in town doing songs and comedy so I thought I'd take a look....they took my breath away...with their music, comedy, and showmanship.... 'Dakaboom'.. is the genuine article! Two voices in perfect harmony, and with joyful abandon and humor, they take you on a magical, musical, modern day vaudeville tour!! Ben McLain and Paul Peglar are headed for stardom. They are unique, they are original, and they are known as 'Dakaboom.' Don't miss 'em 'cause you're in for a treat!

  Tommy Smothers

  Song, Unique, Two

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• Every year, the Friday before the new Saturday-morning shows would premiere, the networks would do this big preview special, and I was always glued to the TV. As horrible as they were, they were entertaining at the time. There was a lot of showmanship from the networks based around the new lineup.

  Seth MacFarlane

  Friday, Morning, Years

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• I've always loved the showmanship of professional wrestling. While I love making movies, I love that platform, too.

  Dwayne Johnson

  Wrestling, Inspire, Love Making

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