Happy Birthday Laurence Olivier!

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.

Frauen sagen selten bewusst die Unwahrheit. Aber sie geben der Wahrheit gern ein bisschen Make-up.

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.

Niemand auf der Welt ist so wehrlos wie ein toter Autor gegen einen lebenden Regisseur.

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.

Gib immer dein Bestes! Mehr kannst du nicht, weniger darfst du nicht tun. 

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.

Ein Autor, der noch zitiert, aber nicht mehr gelesen wird.

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

Ich wüsste nicht, wer den Menschen besser über den Menschen belehren sollte als der Schauspieler.

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

Klatsch ist eine gesprochene Zeitung für Analphabeten der Fairness.

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.

Klassiker sind Autoren, die noch zitiert, aber nicht mehr gelesen werden.

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.

My stage successes have provided me with the greatest moments outside myself, my film successes the best moments, professionally, within myself.

The actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.

We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.

If he was lost for a moment, he would dive straight back into its honey.

I take a simple view of life: keep your eyes open and get on with it.

When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.

I should be soaring away with my head tilted slightly toward the gods, feeding on the caviar of Shakespeare. An actor must act.

Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.

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.