Quotes by Laurence Olivier

“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.”

“[the only acting advice he would give] What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?”

“Have a very good reason for everything you do.”

“Nobody is going to pretend that I am younger than I am. Apart from anything else, it is in the papers all the damn time - every time I have a birthday.”

“Acting is illusion, as much illusion as magic is, and not so much a matter of being real.”

“I know it was wonderful but I don't know how I did it.”

“Life is enthusiasm zest.”

“I know it was wonderful but I don't know how I did it.”

“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 ...”

“I take a simple view of living. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.”

“I know it was wonderful but I don't know how I did it.”

“Life is enthusiasm zest.”

“I know it was wonderful but I don't know how I did it.”

“I take a simple view of living. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.”

“Acting is illusion, as much illusion as magic is — and not so much a matter of being real. I mean, I would probably shock Lee Strasberg.”

“If I wasn't an actor, I think I'd have gone mad. You have to have extra voltage, some extra temperament to reach certain heights. Art is a little bit larger than life — it's an exhalation of life a...”

“Never. The shot is too big for the cannon.”

“I think that bloody old National nearly killed me.”

“Like coming for a living.”

“He could speak Shakespeare's lines as naturally as if he were actually thinking them.”