Inspirational Quotes
Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.
Anthony Hopkins Quotes
Work-Life BalanceLifestyleContentmentComfort I like the good life too much, I'm not good at going on stage night after night and on wet Wednesday afternoons.
Self-AcceptanceWholenessFulfillment Relish everything that's inside of you, the imperfections, the darkness, the richness and light and everything. And that makes for a full life.
PerseveranceOvercoming AdversityRevengePurpose I tried acting, liked it, and stuck with it. I saw it as the way I would keep that promise to myself of getting back at those who had made my school life a misery.
PerseveranceGratitudeCareerReadiness This industry has been really good to me. It's been a great life. I'm not through yet. I'm ready when you are, Mr. DeMille.
Self-AcceptanceIndifferenceIndependence My philosophy is: It's none of my business what people say of me and think of me.
FearlessnessCourageCreativitySelf-Expression If you do things, whether it's acting or music or painting, do it without fear - that's my philosophy. Because nobody can arrest you and put you in jail if you paint badly, so there's nothing to lose.
AmericaHomeBelonging I came here in 1974 to do a play, and then I went to L.A. I really like living in America. I feel more at home here than anywhere else.
IndependenceSelf-RespectBoundariesConfidence I can't stand directors who try to micro-manage everything. When it happens these days I just walk off set, saying if they don't like the way I'm doing it they can get someone else.
ToughnessFamilyCharacter My father wasn't a cruel man. And I loved him. But he was a pretty tough character. His own father was even tougher - one of those Victorians, hard as iron - but my dad was tough enough.
AchievementSelf-ConfidenceSuccess I've got no need to prove to myself that I can do Shakespeare. I've done it.
PreparationPracticeWork Ethic What I do is just go over and over and over my lines and learn the script so well that I can just be easy and relaxed. That's the way I always work.
SimplicityNormalcyModestyFreedom I don't have people following me around, like bodyguards. I don't know how people live like that. Maybe the young movie stars have to live like that, I don't know. But it seems a little crazy to me. I don't think you need all that stuff.
MusicBrain HealthPhysical ActivityHobbies We have a Boesendorfer piano that I play every day. It keeps my brain and my fingers active.
Art and CommercePopularitySeriousnessPerception People forget that Mozart wrote for commissions. There's a thing in psychology where they think if it's popular, it can't be serious.
Moving OnAcceptanceResilienceLetting Go I've had no contact with my daughter for years. That's her choice. Anyway, you move on. If people don't want to bother with me, fine. You know, God bless them, and move on.
Dislike for Excessive TalkLiterary CriticismTheatre DiscussionsTedium In the theatre, people talk. Talk, talk until the cows come home about journeys of discovery and about what Hazlitt thought of a line of Shakespeare. I can't stand it.
CareerPerseveranceCommitment Every time I try to retire, or even think of retiring from acting, my agent comes up with a script.
MusicPassionAmbitionLifelong DedicationEducation I've been composing music all my life and if I'd been clever enough at school I would like to have gone to music college.
ChildhoodAdversityPerseverance I was called 'Dumbo,' like the elephant, as a child because I couldn't understand things at school.
WorkExperienceIndustry I worked at the Steel Company Of Wales when I was 17. My job was to supply tools to the guys working the blast furnaces.
LuckInspirationIntuition Richard Burton came from the same town as me, so I thought I'd follow my nose, and follow my luck. I think I've been very lucky.
HumilityConnectionDownfall Once you begin to fall off the track and believe you breathe different air to everyone else, you're doomed; you're finished.
TalentHeartNationality The Welsh people have a talent for acting that one does not find in the English. The English lack heart.
Self-acceptanceAuthenticityAcceptanceInner PeaceIndependence My philosophy is it's none of my business what people say of me and think of me. I am what I am, and I do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. And it makes life so much easier.
LonelinessIsolationFriendship I don't have many friends; I'm very much a loner. As a child I was very isolated, and I've never been really close to anyone.
RespectToleranceHumilityBelief I hope I would not be so arrogant as to doubt anyone's religion or belief.
External ValidationSocial PressureCareer DecisionsSurvivalYouth We're always looking over our shoulders, 'what they will think, what the press will think, what will this one - am I making the right career move?' When you're young you have to do all that to survive, I suppose.
PatienceCautionPlanning I'm one of the slowest drivers on the road. I mosey along. If you're doing anything too fast, including living life too fast, that creates sudden death. If I have to be somewhere on time, I make sure I leave early enough.
ExistenceUnderstandingMystery Our existence is beyond our explanation, whether we believe in God or we have religion or we're atheist. Our existence is beyond our understanding. No one has an answer.
StressWorkMotivation I think a certain amount of stress in life is good. The stress of just working, which takes effort - I think it keeps you going.
FlexibilityAdaptabilityOpen-mindedness I couldn't say I ever dreamt of becoming a composer, a pianist, or anything else for that matter. I have the kind of brain where nothing is set in stone.
LeadershipQualityCompetence It's such a pleasant surprise when you come on set and you find someone in charge like Ken Branagh or James Ivory. You know that you're going to do a day's work and at the end of it, it's going to be good.
HonorHumilityAuthenticity The knighthood was a tremendous honour, I don't dismiss it. But I feel embarrassed by the flowery, theatrical stuff that goes with being an actor.
StrengthCompassionDiscernment I'm a pretty tough guy, you know. I'm a pretty hard man. I've got a lot of compassion, but I don't waste time with people.
PerseveranceCareerProgressJourney I spent two years in the military service, then I trudged around in repertory for quite a while. I somehow wound up at the National Theatre, though, and then I was definitely on my way.
HomelandNostalgiaChildhoodBelonging I have dual citizenship; it just so happens I live in America. I would like to go back to Wales. I'm obsessed with my childhood, and at least three times a week dream I am back there.
ChildhoodNostalgiaMemoryDream I would like to go back to Wales. I'm obsessed with my childhood and at least three times a week dream I am back there.
LeadershipHumilityCollaboration A conductor can't be too arrogant with an orchestra and try to impose himself too much.