Quote Of The Day By Rita Moreno: 'It Is Through Art That We Will Prevail And We Will...'

If anyone knows the significance of art in our lives and culture, it's Rita Moreno. The seasoned actor, who's starred in two big screen iterations of "West Side Story," had a major role in the HBO prison drama "Oz," and maintained her charm in modern comedies like "80 for Brady," is a tried-and-true example of an artist who's prevailed as a legendary lady of Hollywood from her breakout role to her 90s.

Moreno was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, in December 1931. She relocated to New York City with her mother in 1935, thus opening the door for her to pursue a career in entertainment. After taking dance lessons and voicing characters in Spanish-language dubs of American movies, Moreno went on to star in films like "Singin' in the Rain" and "The King and I," among several other film, television, and stage productions, and has been recognized for her accomplishments with an Oscar, Tony, multiple Emmys, and several other awards. The powerhouse star, one of the famous women who don't seem to age, is also still going strong today with roles in modern projects like "Fast X," "Jane the Virgin," and "Family Switch," among several others. Regardless of when you were born, there's no doubt you've seen or heard Moreno in at least one movie or show, or perhaps witnessed her re-wearing outfits on multiple red carpets. And that's why she's today's Quote of the Day.

With a career spanning over 80 years, we'd argue Moreno is a leading authority on art's importance throughout the decades. It feels natural that she's championed it throughout her storied life, famously saying, "It is through art that we will prevail and we will endure. It lives on after us and defines us as people." Though it isn't clear when or where she said it, the quote went viral during the 2021 Oscars season, having been used in fall 2021 Facebook posts by The Academy and PBS, among others.

Regardless of their origin or the context of the conversation they came up in, Moreno's words nonetheless ring true. Without art, people and cultural groups worldwide would lack an important outlet through which they may express themselves and universally communicate ideas and emotions. Her powerhouse performances in art-form-blending productions like 1961's "West Side Story" are the perfect example of how art may inspire and emotionally impact people.

Rita Moreno's thoughts about art convey that it, in a way, makes the artist and their intended messages immortal. After a piece is published, it may keep the artist's spirit alive and preserve their thoughts and emotions long after they pass away. Such is the case for several of Moreno's co-stars from her earlier career, including Natalie Wood of "West Side Story" or the majority of the cast of "Singin' in the Rain," whose performances and likenesses are kept alive by the magic of cinema. Moreno's message also communicates that, beyond figurative immortality, art also shows who we are both as individuals and groups. It can effectively communicate a person or group's thoughts, emotions, and sensibilities in a fashion digestible for many, including those unfamiliar with a particular way of thinking.

For some, Moreno's quote could be a call to action to create and publish their own art. That way, they may convey and preserve their own unique thoughts, emotions, and cultural experiences — similar to how Moreno has brought her own Latin American flare to her roles. It also encourages those who aren't artistically inclined to continue consuming art, and perhaps branch out and explore works from unfamiliar voices and art forms. That way, they may take in, and perhaps better understand, foreign cultures and mindsets.

• "Art broadens perspective, fosters appreciation for beauty, lifts us above ourselves, enables us to project beyond our circumstances, and gives us a common language to explore disparate ideas."
• "A lot of young Latino actors have said to me, "Why can't we get an Oscar? Why can't we be nominated?" And the terrible truth is that if you don't get the right parts, you're not going to be. Are you going to get an Oscar nomination for one of those Judd Apatow movies? Not likely, no matter what nationality you are. And I think that until we as Latino actors get to do roles that have really serious meaning, it's going to be impossible to get nominated." 
• "There was nobody that I could look up and say, 'That's somebody like me.' There was no such person Which is probably why I'm now known in my community as 'La Pionera,' or the Pioneer."
• "From Puerto Rico, Cuba or anywhere else in Latin America, Hispanics are woven into the fabric of this nation. Our food, family values, music and passion are threads in its tapestry."
• "Since its very genesis, this country has been an incubator for dreamers, especially hopeful immigrants. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a performer, to make it in show business. And when I was cast as Anita in the 1961 film version of 'West Side Story' — a major production — I knew the American dream could happen for people like me."
• "I'm a person who's constantly saying to total strangers, 'Oh my gosh, what beautiful eyes you have!' That does something to someone."