Laurence Olivier Quotations

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

Scratch an actor and you'll find an actor.

Life is enthusiasm, zest.

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

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

A sexual athlete is not likely to find sufficient energy for work of another athletic kind, and the acting of great parts most definitely was and always will be athletic, depending on inner if not on visible energy. Members of other professions that depend on the expenditure of physical energy must, I believe, find similar difficulties when attempting to double up on their energies. One has often heard that the most magnificent specimens of boxers, wrestlers and champions in almost every branch of athletic sport prove to be disappointing upon the removal of that revered jockstrap.

In spite of a heavy disguise, a few days' growth on my face, dark glasses, a beret and one of William's jackets that fitted me not at all, as I emerged from a hotel in Lecce, a young fisherman pointed me out to his friends and said "Lavrenche Olivaire." It was not all that amazing; if you're not known in Italy, you're not known anywhere.

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 not a profession for adults.

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