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I was honoured when they asked me to appear at the president's birthday rally in Madison Square Garden. There was like a hush over the whole place when I came on to sing 'Happy Birthday,' like if I had been wearing a slip, I would have thought it was showing or something. I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, what if no sound comes out!'
Marilyn Monroe
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Marilyn Monroe expresses her nerves and sense of honor about performing at a significant event for the president.

In this quote, Marilyn Monroe reflects on the blend of excitement and anxiety she felt while preparing to sing 'Happy Birthday' at a rally for the president. The moment was both an overwhelming privilege and a pressure-filled experience, highlighting the vulnerability that often accompanies public performances, especially in such a prestigious setting.

Themes

PerformanceNervesHonorPublic SpeakingCelebrity

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech about overcoming fear in public speaking, this quote can be used to illustrate that even famous figures experience nerves.

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