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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.

Laurence Olivier

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Laurence Olivier
Age: 82 †
Born: 1907
Born: May 22
Died: 1989
Died: July 11
Actor
Character Actor
Director
Dramaturge
Film Actor
Film Director
Film Producer
Politician
Screenwriter
Stage Actor
Television Actor
Dorking
Surrey
Baron Olivier of Brighton
The Lord Olivier
Given
Better
Human
Humans
Theatre
Heart
Actor
Work
Teach
Knowledge
Actors

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Autograph-hunting is the most unattractive manifestation of sex-starved curiosity.
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We have all, at one time or another, been performers, and many of us still are - politicians, playboys, cardinals and kings.
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Don't be afraid to be outrageous the critics will shoot you down anyway.
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I am far from sure when I am acting and when I am not or, should I more frankly put it, when I am lying and when I am not. For what is acting but lying and what is good acting but convincing lying?
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Shakespeare - The nearest thing in incarnation to the eye of God.
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What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?
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The art of persuasion. The actor persuades himself, first, and through himself, the audience.
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Scratch an actor and you'll find an actor.
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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.
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You think you're an artist prove it
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I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theater is the outward and visible sign of an inward and probable culture.
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Striving for perfection is the greatest stopper there is. You'll be afraid you can't achieve it. It's your excuse to yourself for not doing anything. Instead, strive for excellence, doing your best.
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Life is enthusiasm, zest.
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If you're an artist, you've got to prove it.
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Of all the things I've done in life, directing a motion picture is the most beautiful. It's the most exciting and the nearest than an interpretive craftsman, such as an actor can possibly get to being a creator.
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The office of drama is to exercise, possibly to exhaust, human emotions. The purpose of comedy is to tickle those emotions into an expression of light relief of tragedy, to wound them and bring the relief of tears. Disgust and terror are the other points of the compass.
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No matter how well you perform, there's always somebody of intelligent opinion who thinks it's lousy.
Laurence Olivier
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I'd like people to remember me for a diligent expert workman. I think a poet is a workman. I think Shakespeare was a workman. And God's a workman. I don't think there's anything better than a workman.
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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.
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My stage successes have provided me with the greatest moments outside myself, my film successes the best moments, professionally, within myself.
Laurence Olivier