"I would like to be Maria, but there is La Callas who demands that I carry myself with her dignity"

This quote by Maria Callas speaks with the tremendous pressure she felt to measure up to the tradition of her predecessor, La Callas. It is a testimony to the respect she had for her predecessor and the high requirements she set for herself. She was aware of the expectations put upon her and was identified to satisfy them. She wanted to be her own person, however at the very same time, she felt the requirement to honor the legacy of La Callas. She was identified to bring herself with the same self-respect and grace that La Callas had. This quote speaks with the immense pressure Maria Callas felt to measure up to the tradition of her predecessor, while also striving to be her own individual. It is a testimony to her strength and determination to be the best she might be, while also honoring the legacy of La Callas.