Laurence Olivier quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Laurence Olivier on Wise Famous Quotes.

Art is a little bit larger than life - it's an exhalation of life and I think you probably need a little touch of madness.

Acting is a masochistic form of exhibitionism. It is not quite the occupation of an adult.

I often think that could we creep behind the actor's eyes, we would find an attic of forgotten toys and a copy of the Domesday Book.

Above all, you must remain open and fresh and alive to any new idea.

I don't know what is better than the work that is given to the actor - to teach the human heart the knowledge of itself.

Have a very good reason for everything you do.

The art of persuasion. The actor persuades himself, first, and through himself, the audience.

Autograph-hunting is the most unattractive manifestation of sex-starved curiosity.

You think you're an artist; prove it

Life is enthusiasm, zest.

When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.

Don't waste your time striving for perfection; instead, strive for excellence - doing your best.

We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.

Work is life for me, it is the only point of life-and with it there is almost religious belief that service is everything.

No matter how well you perform, there's always somebody of intelligent opinion who thinks it's lousy.

My stage successes have provided me with the greatest moments outside myself, my film successes the best moments, professionally, within myself.

We used to have actresses trying to become stars; now we have stars trying to become actresses.

Acting, is not a profession for adults.

[the only acting advice he would give] What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?

If he was lost for a moment, he would dive straight back into its honey.

Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.

I believe in the theater; I believe in it as the first glamorizer of thought. It restores dramatic dynamics and their relations to life size.

Without acting, I cannot breathe.

If I wasn't an actor, I think I'd have gone mad. You have to have extra voltage, some extra temperament to reach certain heights.

Shakespeare - The nearest thing in incarnation to the eye of God.

Use your weaknesses; aspire to the strength.

The humility to prepare and the self-confidence to bring it off.

Don't be afraid to be outrageous; the critics will shoot you down anyway.

I should be soaring away with my head tilted slightly toward the gods, feeding on the caviar of Shakespeare. An actor must act.

Surely we have always acted; it is an instinct inherent in all of us. Some of us are better at it than others, but we all do it.

Acting is illusion, as much illusion as magic is, and not so much a matter of being real.

Scratch an actor and you'll find an actor.

The actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.

I take a simple view of life: keep your eyes open and get on with it.

We have all, at one time or another, been performers, and many of us still are - politicians, playboys, cardinals and kings.