Laurence Olivier Quotes & Sayings

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Acting is a masochistic form of exhibitionism. It is not quite the occupation of an adult.”

“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.”

“We have all, at one time or another, been performers, and many of us still are - politicians, playboys, cardinals and kings.”

“I often think that could we creep behind the actor's eyes, we would find an attic of forgotten toys and a copy of the Domesday Book.”

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

“We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.”