Inspirational Quotes
Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.
Anthony Hopkins Quotes
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.
AchievementSelf-ConfidenceSuccess I've got no need to prove to myself that I can do Shakespeare. I've done it.
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.
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.
SimplicityHard WorkGroundednessPracticalityEarthiness My father was grounded, a very meat-and-potatoes man. He was a baker.
BullyingResilienceGrowthHope I was bullied as a boy - lots of kids are, but hopefully most of us get on with our lives and grow up.
RespectToleranceHumilityBelief I hope I would not be so arrogant as to doubt anyone's religion or belief.
TimeMysteryExistenceSupernatural The magical, supernatural force that is with us every second is time. We can't even comprehend it. It's such an illusion, it's such a strange thing.
ActorDedicationDisciplinePreparation Oh yes. I'm an actor, so I just learn my lines, and show up and do it. I gave it a little bit of thought.
PerseveranceCollaborationResilienceAdaptabilityBalance I know that some actors and directors like to have intensity on set. I don't, particularly. Certainly, if they want that, that's fine, but I can't work like that.
FitnessSelf-ContradictionVice I have a punishing workout regimen. Every day I do 3 minutes on a treadmill, then I lie down, drink a glass of vodka and smoke a cigarette.
ImprovisationFreedomNatural TalentCreativity I always had a knack for improvisation. I can write down the notes I play, but never really had a proper academic musical background. I suppose I'm blessed and cursed by the fact I have that freedom.
MusicBrain HealthPhysical ActivityHobbies We have a Boesendorfer piano that I play every day. It keeps my brain and my fingers active.
DreamSubconsciousLife's PeculiarityNightmares I'm interested in the dream and subconscious mind, the peculiar dream-like quality of our lives, sometime nightmare quality of our lives.
CareerPerseveranceCommitment Every time I try to retire, or even think of retiring from acting, my agent comes up with a script.
HumilitySimplicityEqualityIdentityAuthenticity People ask, 'Should I call you Sir Hopkins?' But I say, 'No. Call me Tony,' because it's too much of a lift-up.
TrustIntuitionSurrenderInner Wisdom Acting is just a process of relaxation, actually. Knowing the text so well and trusting that the instinct and the subconscious mind, whatever you want to call it, is going to take over.
ChildhoodAdversityPerseverance I was called 'Dumbo,' like the elephant, as a child because I couldn't understand things at school.
HomePeaceBelonging I remember coming to New York in 1974 to do a play here called 'Equis.' And I remember the first morning getting up and walking around the streets, and I thought, 'I'm home.' I felt really at peace here.
Overcoming Adversity I was lousy in school. Real screwed-up. A moron. I was antisocial and didn't bother with the other kids. A really bad student. I didn't have any brains. I didn't know what I was doing there. That's why I became an actor.
ActingAuthenticitySubtlety The art of acting is not to act. Once you show them more, what you show them, in fact is bad acting.
PerseveranceTalent Actors I admire? Ed Harris, or course, I think he's terrific; because I know he always had to fight being what he looked like a lot, but I think he's a terrific actor.
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.
HumilityConnectionDownfall Once you begin to fall off the track and believe you breathe different air to everyone else, you're doomed; you're finished.
Human NatureCircumstancesSurvival InstinctJudgmentIgnorance We're all caught up in circumstances, and we're all good and evil. When you're really hungry, for instance, you'll do anything to survive. I think the most evil thing - well, maybe that's too strong - but certainly a very evil thing is judgment, the sin of ignorance.
HonorRecognitionCultural NormsRespectUnexpected Gifts I don't know why they gave me a knighthood - though it's very nice of them - but I only ever use the title in the U.S. The Americans insist on it and get offended if I don't.
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.
FameIndifferenceRebellion I have no interest in Shakespeare and all that British nonsense... I just wanted to get famous and all the rest is hogwash.
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.
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.
FairnessSelf-Reliance I don't believe in nepotism. I don't much like the idea of parents who interfere.
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.
LoveExcitementAdventurePassion I love roller coasters. I don't get a chance often, but I've gone to Magic Mountain and gone on the rides. I love roller coasters.
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.
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.
IdentityFamilyEmpowermentMotivationResilience I've felt like an outsider all my life. It comes from my mother, who always felt like an outsider in my father's family. She was a powerful woman, and she motivated my father.