April 12: Notable Births, with Quotes
Explore memorable and revealing quotes from public figures, past and present, who were born on April 12.
Claire Danes, actor (April 12, 1979–present)
“It’s expensive to hire an actual kid. Usually it’s an older person who can pass for a teenager, because the union is very strict about child protection. Every kid has to go to school for three hours a day. They can only film for 10 hours a day. So it’s a real investment.” —Claire Danes
Gross, Terry. “Claire Danes Reflects ‘With Gratitude’ On Her Life-Changing ‘Homeland’ Tenure.” NPR, February 20, 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/02/20/807715547/claire-danes-reflects-with-gratitude-on-her-life-changing-homeland-tenure.
“Adolescence is a difficult time, full stop. In some ways, I think I ran into acting because I was struggling emotionally just with that reality. I really had a hard time in junior high school and was bullied and I just hated the social dynamics. I got to reflect on that in such an incredible way with ‘My So-Called Life.’” —Claire Danes
Gross, Terry. “Claire Danes Reflects ‘With Gratitude’ On Her Life-Changing ‘Homeland’ Tenure.” NPR, February 20, 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/02/20/807715547/claire-danes-reflects-with-gratitude-on-her-life-changing-homeland-tenure.
Tom Clancy, novelist (April 12, 1947–October 1, 2013)
“More than anything else, I’m a technology freak. And the best stuff is in the military.” —Tom Clancy
Mutter, John. “PW Interviews Tom Clancy.” Publishers Weekly, August 8, 1986, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/59383-pw-interviews-tom-clancy.html.
“People who fight wars are the smartest people I know. The smartest person I ever met is a submariner.” —Tom Clancy
Mutter, John. “PW Interviews Tom Clancy.” Publishers Weekly, August 8, 1986, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/59383-pw-interviews-tom-clancy.html.
David Letterman, comedian and talk show host (April 12, 1947–present)
“I do a lot less work than I used to do. I just got to a point where I have no patience for meetings so I don’t go to any meetings. I can’t make decisions anymore; I don’t like making decisions. We have a dozen producers. They can have the meetings and they can make the decisions, and I’ll just come down and somebody tell me what to do and we go.” —David Letterman
Here’s The Thing. “David Letterman.” WNYC Studios, June 17, 2012, https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/heresthething/episodes/216217-david-letterman.
“I like talking to people and the opportunity to learn something; or if I have a natural curiosity about somebody, I really look forward to that. Or if I have something that I know is gonna be silly and stupid and I want my authorship out there on this something silly and stupid, then I get eager about that.” —David Letterman
Here’s The Thing. “David Letterman.” WNYC Studios, June 17, 2012, https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/heresthething/episodes/216217-david-letterman.
Herbie Hancock, musician (April 12, 1940–present)
“There is no species called musician. We are human beings. We are affected by the world around us, and of course that comes through in the music.” —Herbie Hancock
Adams, Tim. “Herbie Hancock: ‘I like to discover new rules so I can break them.’” The Guardian, November 11, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/11/herbie-hancock-interview-miles-davis-buddhism-barbican-london-jazz-festival.
“I think it is up to musicians to encourage people to be courageous, to try things and listen to things they haven’t heard before. To hear things through other people’s ears.” —Herbie Hancock
Adams, Tim. “Herbie Hancock: ‘I like to discover new rules so I can break them.’” The Guardian, November 11, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/11/herbie-hancock-interview-miles-davis-buddhism-barbican-london-jazz-festival.
“I like to discover new rules so I can break them. I look around and see what is becoming a musical convention. And then I work out how I might break it. That’s where innovation comes from, that’s what keeps me playing.” —Herbie Hancock
Adams, Tim. “Herbie Hancock: ‘I like to discover new rules so I can break them.’” The Guardian, November 11, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/11/herbie-hancock-interview-miles-davis-buddhism-barbican-london-jazz-festival.
Ann Miller, dancer and actor (April 12, 1923–January 22, 2004)
“Tops in taps, honey, tops in taps!” —Ann Miller
Reed, Rex. “She Never Stopped Dancing.” Observer, February 9, 2004, https://observer.com/2004/02/she-never-stopped-dancing/.
“Richard Avedon is photographing me for Vogue, I’m being interviewed tomorrow for eight hours by People magazine, I’m doing a ‘What Makes a Legend’ ad for Blackglama mink, and I’m so thrilled about having dinner with Ethel Merman I could wet my britches!” —Ann Miller
Reed, Rex. “She Never Stopped Dancing.” Observer, February 9, 2004, https://observer.com/2004/02/she-never-stopped-dancing/.
Beverly Cleary, author (April 12, 1916–March 25, 2021)
“I think children want to read about normal, everyday kids. That’s what I wanted to read about when I was growing up. I wanted to read about the sort of boys and girls that I knew in my neighborhood and in my school. … I think children like to find themselves in books.” —Beverly Cleary
Jaeger-Miller, Melissa. “Beverly Cleary Is Turning 100, But She Has Always Thought Like A Kid.” NPR, April 11, 2016, https://www.npr.org/2016/04/11/473558659/beverly-cleary-is-turning-100-but-she-has-always-thought-like-a-kid.
“I do have very clear memories of childhood. I find that many people don’t, but I’m just very fortunate that I have that kind of memory.” —Beverly Cleary
Jaeger-Miller, Melissa. “Beverly Cleary Is Turning 100, But She Has Always Thought Like A Kid.” NPR, April 11, 2016, https://www.npr.org/2016/04/11/473558659/beverly-cleary-is-turning-100-but-she-has-always-thought-like-a-kid.
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