"It was something she didn't want me to do because she thought the rejection would ruin my self-esteem. My father was, like, 'If she wants to try it, let her try it.'"
About this Quote
The mother’s position is tender and preventative: rejection isn’t just an outcome, it’s a threat to identity. That fear is culturally familiar, especially in performance worlds where "no" can feel like a verdict, not feedback. The subtext is less "don’t audition" and more "don’t get labeled". In industries that sort people early, self-esteem can feel like a resource you have to conserve.
The father’s line carries a different kind of care: trust. "If she wants to try it" recognizes desire as data, not a whim to be managed. It also reframes rejection as a normal part of attempting anything, not an exceptional trauma. The intent isn’t to toughen a child into stoicism; it’s to keep the locus of control with her. She chooses, she risks, she learns.
Coming from an actress, the anecdote reads like a quiet origin story about permission: not the permission to succeed, but the permission to be seen trying. That’s the career in miniature.
Quote Details
| Topic | Father |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Muth, Ellen. (2026, January 17). It was something she didn't want me to do because she thought the rejection would ruin my self-esteem. My father was, like, 'If she wants to try it, let her try it.'. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-was-something-she-didnt-want-me-to-do-because-50828/
Chicago Style
Muth, Ellen. "It was something she didn't want me to do because she thought the rejection would ruin my self-esteem. My father was, like, 'If she wants to try it, let her try it.'." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-was-something-she-didnt-want-me-to-do-because-50828/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"It was something she didn't want me to do because she thought the rejection would ruin my self-esteem. My father was, like, 'If she wants to try it, let her try it.'." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-was-something-she-didnt-want-me-to-do-because-50828/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
