"Ladies and gentlemen, my mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you!"
About this Quote
The intent is crowd management. Onstage, applause is a currency you can stretch, redirect, and cash out. By attributing his gratitude to his whole family, Cohan borrows instant wholesomeness and folds himself into it, as if his performance is not just entertainment but a communal, all-American enterprise. The subtext: you’re not cheering a lone professional; you’re affirming a home, a lineage, a story you can root for. That’s how stage charm turns into cultural permission.
It also works because it’s politely absurd. The audience knows his relatives aren’t there; the formality is knowingly overdone, a wink that keeps the moment from turning syrupy. Cohan’s era loved performers who could toggle between sincerity and hustle without showing the seam. This line does exactly that: it performs humility while quietly reminding you who deserves the ovation - and how expertly he can conduct it.
Quote Details
| Topic | Thank You |
|---|---|
| Source | Attributed stage-closing line by George M. Cohan, cited on Wikiquote (George M. Cohan). |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Cohan, George M. (2026, January 15). Ladies and gentlemen, my mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you! FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ladies-and-gentlemen-my-mother-thanks-you-my-169402/
Chicago Style
Cohan, George M. "Ladies and gentlemen, my mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you!" FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ladies-and-gentlemen-my-mother-thanks-you-my-169402/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Ladies and gentlemen, my mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you!" FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ladies-and-gentlemen-my-mother-thanks-you-my-169402/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
