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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.

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
Firsts
Restores
First
Dynamics
Believe
Relations
Life
Dramatic
Relation
Size
Theater
Thought

More quotes by Laurence Olivier

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I'm rather bored by the subject - meaning me. It's a sort of a yoke, but at times you know, a yoke is a kind of comfort. And it's always there.
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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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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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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
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You think you're an artist prove it
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Scratch an actor and you'll find an actor.
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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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You must have - besides intuition and sensitivity - a cutting edge that allows you to reach what you need. Also, you have to know life - bastards included - and it takes a bit of one to know one, don't you think?
Laurence Olivier
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Life is enthusiasm, zest.
Laurence Olivier
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What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?
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Autograph-hunting is the most unattractive manifestation of sex-starved curiosity.
Laurence Olivier
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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.
Laurence Olivier
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Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.
Laurence Olivier
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Without acting, I cannot breathe.
Laurence Olivier
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The art of persuasion. The actor persuades himself, first, and through himself, the audience.
Laurence Olivier
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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.
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.
Laurence Olivier
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Don't be afraid to be outrageous the critics will shoot you down anyway.
Laurence Olivier
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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.
Laurence Olivier
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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?
Laurence Olivier