Denzel Washington Quotes

I'm not a film buff. I don't watch a lot of movies.

When people protest and are upset with a movie, it becomes a big hit. They hated Passion of The Christ, it worked out pretty well for the box office. So let's get that going.

Goals on the road to achievement cannot be achieved without discipline and consistency.

I think a role model is a mentor - someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them.

In marriage, if you're a guy, learn two phrases. One is "yes, dear" and the other is "honey, you're right." Be patient. Be good friends first. And stick together. You gotta work at it. It's not all a honeymoon, it's not all flowers and roses, but if you're friends and partners and committed, you'll be okay. And everybody's got advice for you - don't listen.

I'm from around Tennessee. I ran away when I was 12 years old and I ain't never looked back.

My father was a minister for 50 years with Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. We prayed about everything, every day, then he always said, "Amen. God is love." I thought God is love was one word. Like "Godislove." And it took me a long time to learn what that really meant.

The strongest, toughest men all have compassion. They're not heartless and cold. You have to be man enough to have compassion - to care about people and about your children" (217) - John Singleton "Oh Man, I've Become My Father

My ultimate life dream project is my kids. My family.

You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That's a part of it.

I didn't want to audition the kids so much; I just wanted to talk to them because I like seeing how they are because their mothers usually mess them up with practice. So, I'd rather talk to them and see how they respond. I just throw things at them and see how they can hit the ball back, and Saniyya Sidney was good.

I never really had the classic struggle. I had faith.

Cats are too independent. They piss me off. They play when they want, and then they turn their back on you. Dogs, you throw the ball, and they bring it back, tongue hanging out, tail wagging. Cats are like "Not right now, too busy." Definitely a dog man. Except when it comes to cleaning up after them! Cats win that!

When I did A Soldier's Story, I was very young and green and thought I knew everything-now I know I know everything!

Success? I don't know what that word means. I'm happy. But success, that goes back to what in somebody's eyes success means. For me, success is inner peace. That's a good day for me.

I had a lot of success from the start. I never really was tested for long periods of time. I got my first professional job while I was a senior in college. I signed with the William Morris Agency before I graduated.

You don't have to kill somebody to play a murderer. You have to read the script and interpret the character.

I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it.

If you want to be a warrior, you have to train.

If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.

That's what I tell young actors. "You don't have to compromise. Go do some theater and wait for an appropriate role."

If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her.

I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.

It's not what you know, it's what you can prove.

I had the kid [on "Fences" ] who understudied me so I could stand back and think about shots so he had to learn the blocking and everything. I'd come in early sometimes, and they 'd be in there rehearsing and working on their stuff. I didn't want them to feel like, "Oh these are people who can't be touched." We're all working actors; we're all trying to get better.

[Movie "Fences"] is more than holds up today. We have had a tremendous response at the screenings.

Writing is a weapon and it’s more powerful than a fist could ever be.

Everybody has a job to do. There are people in Iraq on both sides of this war who do what they do for religious reasons, and they feel with God on their side. Some people are good at annihilating people. Maybe that's their gift.

I love research and being educated. It's a great job being able to step into all kinds of professions and into other people's shoes.

The lessons I learned in Sunday School have kept me on track

It's simple: You get a part. You play a part. You play it well. You do your work and you go home. And what is wonderful about movies is that once they're done, they belong to the people. Once you make it, it's what they see. That's where my head is at.

Years ago, even prior to 9/11, I did a movie called "The Siege." I did a lot of research with the FBI and the CIA. And I was amazed at that time (I guess we might all know it now) how little information they shared with each other. So after that, I'm not surprised by anything.

Sometimes when you're the good guy, you're sort of trapped. "Oh, he can't say that." And even when you're playing a real person like a Steven Biko, you're sort of stuck within those confines. So yeah, bad guys do have more fun.

Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.

I get nervous when a picture goes beyond two hours.

It's not easy for me to admit that I've been standing in the same place for 18 years.

If you don't fail, you're not even trying.

[Martin] Scorsese probably could have directed Schindler's List and [Steven] Spielberg probably could have directed Goodfellas. But it's as much to do with the difference in culture as it is with race.

My role 14 years ago in Richard III - that was the first time I played a bad guy and learned a lot about it - they have all the fun!

When you trust the director you want to trust his or her choices. I don't want to say, 'No, I don't like this girl or that guy," when the director really loves them. No, you want to go with what the director likes.

Man gives you the award but God gives you the reward.

In 2009, Scott Rudin sent me August's [Wilson] original screenplay [Fences] and asked me what I wanted to do with it. He wanted to know if I wanted to act in it, direct it or produce it. I said, "Well, let me read it first."

I've worked with children all my life.

Acting is just a way of making a living, the family is life.

[Having monologue] are talking to somebody even if it's just to yourself, convince yourself if that's what you're trying to do.

Meryl and Katharine Hepburn are probably the two greatest actresses of this and the last century.

There is nothing good or bad, except by comparison" (209) - "Effort is Everything" by Bud Selig

I'm a positive person, so I don't get bogged down with it. If you're expecting that, if you wall in that, if you practice that, then you'll attract what you fear.