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

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
First
Persuades
Persuasion
Actor
Audience
Actors
Art
Firsts

More quotes by Laurence Olivier

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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.
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Autograph-hunting is the most unattractive manifestation of sex-starved curiosity.
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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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There is a spirit in us that makes our brass to blare and our cymbals crash-all, of course, supported by the practicalities of trained lung power, throat, heart, guts.
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What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?
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If he was lost for a moment, he would dive straight back into its honey.
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Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.
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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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Scratch an actor and you'll find an actor.
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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.
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Life is enthusiasm, zest.
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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.
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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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Shakespeare - The nearest thing in incarnation to the eye of God.
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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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Work is life for me, it is the only point of life - and with it there is almost religious belief that service is everything.
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[May 1958, on playing Macbeth at age 30 and age 48] When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.
Laurence Olivier
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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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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.
Laurence Olivier