Quotes by Laurence Olivier

“Living is strife and torment, disappointment and love and sacrifice, golden sunsets and black storms. I said that some time ago, and today I do not think I would add one word.”

“I dont know what is better than the work that is given to the actor - to teach the human heart the knowledge of itself.”

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

“If I wasnt an actor, I think Id have gone mad. You have to have extra voltage, some extra temperament to reach certain heights. Art is a little bit larger than life- its an exhalation of life and I think I you probably need a little touch of madness.”

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

“What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?”

“Without acting I cannot breathe.”

“We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.”

“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.”

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

“If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. [You must] reach the emotional and intellectual level of ability where you can go out stark naked, emotionally, in front of an audience.”

“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.”

“Have a very good reason for everything you do.”

“Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.”

“Use your weaknesses; aspire to the strength.”

“I like Paris. My problem is I dont like Parisians.”

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

“Relax your feet.”

“Its just like a nursery game of make-believe.”

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