Troublemaker Quotes

“If there is one thing I can brag about and be proud of in my life, it’s my dedication to friendship. If I call you a friend, I mean it. You are now on par with being a family member. Friendships are not made overnight; it takes time, effort, and energy. For me, friendships are tested not in the best of times, but in the worst of times. You don’t always get a second chance to be there for someone when they really need you. So when I say I will be there, I mean it.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“By their actions, they will show you who they are.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“There is no “right” way to be. I am flawed and imperfect, but am uniquely me. I don’t fit in and probably never will. And I don’t have to try to anymore. That other person was a lie. And let’s face it, normal is boring. We all have something to offer the world in some way, but by not being our authentic selves, we are robbing the world of something different, something special.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“People say that celebrities stop developing emotionally at the age of their success—which for Tom had been with Risky Business at twenty-one.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“There is no “right” way to be. I am flawed and imperfect, but am uniquely me.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“In a time of universal deceit—telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“How the fuck did you get into some crazy shit like this?”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT when this book comes out, Scientologists will scream about religious intolerance, say that I am a liar, that I was kicked out of the church, and call Troublemaker the work of a hateful bigot or a self-absorbed person with an “insatiable craving for attention.” (That last part might not be totally untrue; I am an actress, after all.) What they will likely not do, however, is actually read this book, because that would be going against one of the basic tenets of Scientology. A member should not read or watch anything generated by someone whom the church”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“The big mistake I made, however, was in trying to change the system instead of just changing myself.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“That sums up my problem with Scientology—despite its claims to the contrary, the practice doesn’t help you better the world or even yourself; it only helps you be a better Scientologist.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“I am a combative, inquisitive, argumentative person, and I will never allow anyone to change that.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“I mean, I was full on ready to be arrested; you know, I’d just put on a little lipstick, mug shot ready.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“If Scientologists are happy in the church, I say God bless. Honestly, it’s probably better for them to keep getting jerked off in the church, because they will never experience that kind of validation in the real world.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“I was more than aware of the Fair Game policy, which stipulates that anyone against Scientology “may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.” This policy essentially allows Scientologists to punish and harass “enemies” using any and all means necessary. The church has stated that this policy was canceled, but there is an exception: “If the person is an SP, this applies.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“Although the church publicly claims that it will simply return funds to anyone who is dissatisfied, the reality of this policy is quite different. In fact, requesting a return of money from the church is classified as a Scientology “High Crime” or “Suppressive Act,” which qualifies one to be declared a Suppressive Person. And in an even more bizarre twist, once the church declares you an SP, according to its policy you are no longer eligible for a return of your money.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“Tom Cruise, the church’s most coveted, celebrated, and protected celebrity member, and David Miscavige, the tyrannical leader and current head of the church. Ironically, for me and for most other people who have left the church and spoken out against it, the very qualities that we’ve been penalized for—defying, questioning, thinking independently—are the same qualities that made us prime candidates for Scientology in the first place.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“Belief and faith are great, but very few people
have been led astray by thinking for themselves.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“And to all my fellow troublemakers, I say, "Carry on.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“You were either all in or all out. It is an extremist religion. There is no middle ground. And there within its structure lies the danger.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“For me, friendships are tested not in the best of times, but in the worst of times. You don’t always get a second chance to be there for someone when they really need you. So when I say I will be there, I mean it. And when I need you, you better be there. Everyone has deal breakers and this is one of mine.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“Then the last item on the checklist: shoes and socks. I was petrified as I looked down, because if you have white socks on, you’re dead to me. Dead to me. There’s no fixing you. You’re beyond help. As a person, there are certain things you should know, and one of them is black pants, black socks, black shoes.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“The weirdness of the night was starting to get to me. When tears started to form in the corners of my eyes, it was Brooke Shields, of all people, who asked me if everything was all right.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“Even though Scientology sees itself as the authority on ethics and responsibility, obscuring the truth is built into its core.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“I was once a big fan of Tom’s—before I got to know him. I’m sure many people could say the same thing about me or any other celebrity. But this is different; most actors are not in charge of your faith. I don’t doubt that Tom is in Scientology because he believes in it, but to me he has simply been given too much power by his church.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“Let me start with this: I am an apostate. I have lied. I have cheated. I have done things in my life that I am not proud of, including but not limited to: • falling in love with a married man nineteen years ago • being selfish and self-centered • fighting with virtually everyone I have ever known (via hateful emails, texts, and spoken words) • physically threatening people (from parking ticket meter maids to parents who hit their kids in public) • not showing up at funerals of people I loved (because I don’t deal well with death) • being, on occasion, a horrible daughter, mother, sister, aunt, stepmother, wife (this list goes on and on). The same goes for every single person in my family: • My husband, also a serial cheater, sold drugs when he was young. • My mother was a self-admitted slut in her younger days (we’re talking the 1960s, before she got married). • My dad sold cocaine (and committed various other crimes), and then served time at Rikers Island. Why am I revealing all this? Because after the Church of Scientology gets hold of this book, it may well spend an obscene amount of money running ads, creating websites, and trotting out celebrities to make public statements that their religious beliefs are being attacked—all in an attempt to discredit me by disparaging my reputation and that of anyone close to me. So let me save them some money. There is no shortage of people who would be willing to say “Leah can be an asshole”—my own mother can attest to that. And if I am all these things the church may claim, then isn’t it also accurate to say that in the end, thirty-plus years of dedication, millions of dollars spent, and countless hours of study and”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“Stupidly perhaps, and sometimes at the cost of my own job, or being labeled “difficult,” I’m willing to say shit to people no matter who they are and what the consequences may be. And yes, in the end, I’m probably cutting off my nose to spite my face. But that’s who I am.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“King of Queens was unpretentious and, most important, funny.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard (LRH), is incredibly alluring. Scientology offers a clearly laid out scientific process that helps you to overcome your limitations and realize your full potential for greatness. It is presented as a well-defined path to achieving total spiritual freedom and enlightenment and a full understanding of yourself and others.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“Down the road you may question why you didn’t leave sooner, but it’s because you simply weren’t ready, that’s all. When the veil comes off, it comes off. No matter how old you are, you still have a life ahead of you and you can still make a change.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

“And to all my fellow troublemakers, I say, “Carry on.”
― Leah Remini, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology