Irving Goffman

"The individual has a line, and along this line his separate involvements fade into background, while a particular set of involvement stands out in sharp relief."

"We are all performers in the grand theater of life."

"Everybody has an understanding of the rituals that make up everyday life."

"The presentation of self is a theatrical performance."

"Social interaction is like a play where we are all actors on stage."

"We manage the impressions we give to others."

"All the world's a stage, and we are merely players."

"In social encounters, we construct and maintain identity through interaction."

"The self is not a possession but a product of social interaction."

"We perform different versions of ourselves in different contexts."

"Social life is maintained through careful management of impressions."

"Every person engaged in social interaction is a performer."

"We all wear masks in our social interactions."

"The definition of a situation is crucial to understanding social behavior."

"Interaction ritual is the foundation of social order."

"We create reality through our interactions with others."

"Social encounters require us to manage information about ourselves."

"Face-work is essential to maintaining social relationships."

"The presentation of self requires constant vigilance and effort."

"Behavior is shaped by the social context in which it occurs."

"We construct our identity through interaction and performance."

"Social institutions depend on the performances of individuals."

"Stigma is a social construct that affects how people are treated."

"We use props and settings to enhance our social performances."

"The front stage and backstage of life serve different purposes."

"Impression management is a universal feature of human interaction."

"Society functions through shared definitions and mutual performances."

"We are all engaged in the business of managing how we appear."

"Role-playing is not separate from real life, it IS real life."

"Understanding social interactions requires attention to ritual and performance."