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Quotes of the Day for 22 May 2012 – Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier was born at Dorking, Surrey, England on this day in 1907. The son and grandson of Anglican priests, he was raised in a strict household but was allowed to act in school productions at St Edward's School, Oxford. Based on his success on the school stage, his father determined that "Kim" should pursue acting at the Central School of Dramatic Art. Although his career started slowly at Birmingham Repertory Company, he won acclaim on the stage and later in film, first in England and in the US from the late '30s. He trained as a pilot in the RAF but was never called to active duty. He was knighted (Knight Bachelor) in 1947, and became Baron Olivier in 1970. He also accumulated a good collection of Oscars, Emmys, and Golden Globes.
You will find an expanded profile, photo, additional biographical links, and all quotes from this author on the author's Notable Quotable page.
The quotes:
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.
My stage successes have provided me with the greatest moments outside myself, my film successes the best moments, professionally, within myself.
Surely we have always acted; it is an instinct inherent in all of us. Some of us are better at it than others, but we all do it.
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.
I should be soaring away with my head tilted slightly toward the gods, feeding on the caviar of Shakespeare. An actor must act.
Use your weaknesses; aspire to the strength.
All from Laurence Olivier, 1907 - 1989
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