Best quotes from Denzel Washington

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, director, and producer. Known for his performances on the screen and stage, he has been described as an actor who reconfigured “the concept of classic movie stardom”. Throughout his career, Washington has received numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, two Academy Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. In 2016, he received the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2020, The New York Times named him the greatest actor of the 21st century.

Washington started his acting career in theatre, acting in performances off-Broadway, including William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus in 1979. He first came to prominence in the medical drama St. Elsewhere (1982-1988). Washington’s early film roles included Norman Jewison’s A Soldier’s Story (1984) and Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom (1987). For his role as Private Silas Trip in the Civil War drama Glory (1989), he won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Throughout the 1990s, he established himself as a leading man in such varied films as Spike Lee’s biographical film epic Malcolm X (1992), Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare adaptation Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Alan J. Pakula’s legal thriller The Pelican Brief (1993), Jonathan Demme’s drama Philadelphia (1993), and Norman Jewison’s legal drama The Hurricane (1999). Washington won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as corrupt detective Alonzo Harris in the crime thriller Training Day (2001).

Washington has continued acting in diverse roles, such as football coach Herman Boone in Remember the Titans (2000), poet and educator Melvin B. Tolson in The Great Debaters (2007), drug kingpin Frank Lucas in American Gangster (2007) and an airline pilot with an addiction in Flight (2012). He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in the Broadway revival of the August Wilson play Fences in 2010.

Washington later directed, produced, and starred in the film adaptation in 2016, which was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Washington. He also produced the film adaptation of Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020). He has also appeared in Broadway revivals of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun in 2014, and Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh in 2018. Washington is one of the only five actors to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting in five different decades.

Some of the best quotes from Denzel Washington are listed below.

1. “A man once told me that you step out of your door in the morning, and you are already in trouble. The only question is are you on top of that trouble or not?” – Denzel Washington
2. “A wise woman knows the importance of speaking life into her man. If you love him, believe in him, encourage him, and be his peace.” – Denzel Washington
3. “Acting is just a way of making a living, the family is life.” – Denzel Washington
4. “Acting, it’s not my life, my children and my family, that’s life. I’ll get up every morning, God willing, for that.” – Denzel Washington
5. “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.” – Denzel Washington
6. “Any good piece of material like Shakespeare ought to be open to reinterpretation.” – Denzel Washington
7. “At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about what you’ve done with those accomplishments. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington
8. “Be careful what you ask for because when you pray for rain, you have to deal with the mud as well.” – Denzel Washington
9. “Believe that what you are doing is bigger than yourself, and you will find an irreplaceable peace.” – Denzel Washington
10. “Black or white good parts are hard to come by. A good actor with a good opportunity has a shot; without the opportunity it doesn’t matter how good you are.” – Denzel Washington
11. “Do what you gotta do so you can do what you wanna do.” – Denzel Washington
12. “Don’t aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.” – Denzel Washington
13. “Don’t be afraid to fail big, to dream big.” – Denzel Washington
14. “Don’t get all sentimental on me, makes me think I’m gonna die.” – Denzel Washington
15. “Don’t just aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.” – Denzel Washington
16. “Don’t tell me what was said about me. Tell me why were they so comfortable to say it to you?” – Denzel Washington
17. “Dreams are great. In fact, dreams are necessary in life or no one would ever go anywhere! But a dream without a goal, and without action, has no opportunity to come true.” – Denzel Washington
18. “Dreams without goals remain dreams.” – Denzel Washington
19. “Dreams without goals, are just dreams and they ultimately fuel disappointment.” – Denzel Washington
20. “Every day, sincerely and without phoniness, try to understand and appreciate the people who work with you. Do your job well, learn your job well, but always remember that the people you work with are your most valuable asset. Embrace them. Honor them. Respect them.” – Denzel Washington
21. “Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.” – Denzel Washington
22. “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.” – Denzel Washington
23. “Faith is the confidence, the assurance, the enforcing truth, the knowing.” – Denzel Washington
24. “Faith will get you to a point. Luck will get you to a point. But to achieve the kind of success you dream about, you need to WORK. There are no shortcuts, you can’t cheat life, just get to work and don’t stop until you reach your highest potential.” – Denzel Washington
25. “Fall forward!” – Denzel Washington
26. “Focus on what you are doing, and not the critics. Critics never made history, and critics never made anyone’s life better. Focus on adding value in your own unique special way.” – Denzel Washington
27. “For me, success in inner peace. That’s a good day for me.” – Denzel Washington
28. “Give other people’s opinions their right significance. Take advice if it is constructive, and learn from it. But do not build your life based around the opinions of others.” – Denzel Washington
29. “Give other peoples opinions their right significance. Take advice if it is constructive, and learn from it. But do not build your life based around the opinions of others. Trust yourself and trust your choices.” – Denzel Washington
30. “Goals on the road to achievement cannot be achieved without discipline and consistency.” – Denzel Washington
31. “Got to be who you are in this world, no matter what.” – Denzel Washington
32. “Growing up I didn’t watch movies.” – Denzel Washington
33. “I actually don’t hang out with any celebrities. My closest friends are old friends. And my real close friends, none of them are actors.” – Denzel Washington
34. “I don’t concern myself with an award. I’d been to the party enough times to know it really didn’t matter.” – Denzel Washington
35. “I don’t feel pressure, because I do what I want to do. I don’t feel pressure at all. I’ve never done any movies because I thought this was what somebody wanted me to do. I’m a bit more, for lack of a better word, selfish than that. But like I say in the movie, you do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.” – Denzel Washington
36. “I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.” – Denzel Washington
37. “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.” – Denzel Washington
38. “I haven’t been unemployed for 20 years. I’m an exception to the rule.” – Denzel Washington
39. “I just try to be honest and true to the character and play the part.” – Denzel Washington
40. “I like talking. I like acting.” – Denzel Washington
41. “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.” – Denzel Washington
42. “I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me – spiritually and financially.” – Denzel Washington
43. “I never really had the classic struggle. I had faith.” – Denzel Washington
44. “I played Othello, but I didn’t sit around thinking how Laurence Olivier did it when he played it. That wouldn’t do me any good.” – Denzel Washington
45. “I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you’re prepared for it.” – Denzel Washington
46. “I still have my unemployment books and I remember when I worked for the sanitation department and the post office.” – Denzel Washington
47. “I think a role model is a mentor – someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them.” – Denzel Washington
48. “I think the bottom of the totem pole is African-American women or women of color. I think they get the least opportunities in Hollywood.” – Denzel Washington
49. “I wasn’t allowed to go to movies when I was a kid; my father was a minister. 101 Dalmatians and King of Kings, that was the extent of it.” – Denzel Washington
50. “I work hard for the audience. It’s entertainment. I don’t need validation.” – Denzel Washington
51. “I’ve worked in a factory. I was a garbage man. I worked in a post office. It’s not that long ago. I like to think that I’m just a regular guy.” – Denzel Washington
52. “I’d be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I’d been given. I’d be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.” – Denzel Washington
53. “I’m not a film buff. I don’t watch a lot of movies.” – Denzel Washington
54. “I’m not afraid to upset people. But I am not as upset because I understand what I’m up against.” – Denzel Washington
55. “I’m not in the loop; I don’t know any actors, really, just the ones I work with.” – Denzel Washington
56. “I’m not interested in being a celebrity; I’m interested in being a better actor and a better director.” – Denzel Washington
57. “I’m very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That’s my cultural historical background, my genetic makeup, but it’s not all of who I am nor is it the basis from which I answer every question.” – Denzel Washington
58. “I’ve always felt protected. That’s the God’s honest truth.” – Denzel Washington
59. “I’ve been fortunate. I don’t pick scripts. Scripts pick me.” – Denzel Washington
60. “I’ve found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.” – Denzel Washington
61. “I’ve worked in a factory. I was a garbage man. I worked in a post office. It’s not that long ago. I like to think that I’m just a regular guy.” – Denzel Washington
62. “I’ve worked with children all my life.” – Denzel Washington
63. “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.” – Denzel Washington
64. “If you don’t fail, you’re not even trying.” – Denzel Washington
65. “If you don’t trust the pilot, don’t go.” – Denzel Washington
66. “If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don’t just be mad at him or her.” – Denzel Washington
67. “If you want to be a warrior, you have to train.” – Denzel Washington
68. “In any profession it gets to be a grind.” – Denzel Washington
69. “In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.” – Denzel Washington
70. “In order to change your life, you must change your thoughts.” – Denzel Washington
71. “It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove.” – Denzel Washington
72. “It’s simple: You get a part. You play a part. You play it well. You do your work and you go home.” – Denzel Washington
73. “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.” – Denzel Washington
74. “It’s simple: You get a part. You play a part. You play it well. You do your work and you go home.” – Denzel Washington
75. “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.” – Denzel Washington
76. “Just because you are doing a lot more doesn’t mean you are getting a lot done. Don’t confuse movement with progress.” – Denzel Washington
77. “Learn to laugh at your failures, smile at your wins and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself.” – Denzel Washington
78. “Life is a melting pot of knowledge and experience, both your own and that of everyone around you. Don’t be afraid to learn from others mistakes, and take bits of useful information or ideas that help you get better at what you do. Wisdom is there at your fingertips, use it.” – Denzel Washington
79. “Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.” – Denzel Washington
80. “Man gives you the award but God gives you the reward.” – Denzel Washington
81. “Meryl and Katharine Hepburn are probably the two greatest actresses of this and the last century.” – Denzel Washington
82. “Money doesn’t buy happiness. Some people say it’s a heck of a down payment, though.” – Denzel Washington
83. “My faith helps me understand that circumstances don’t dictate my happiness, my inner peace.” – Denzel Washington
84. “My mother never gave up on me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back.” – Denzel Washington
85. “My mother used to tell me man gives the award, God gives the reward. I don’t need another plaque.” – Denzel Washington
86. “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!” – Denzel Washington
87. “My ultimate life dream project is my kids. My family.” – Denzel Washington
88. “Never compromise on who you are. You are born with the capacity to achieve greatness if you so desire. Learning to say no is a critical element to accessing that greatness. Your choices will define you; so make them the right ones.” – Denzel Washington
89. “Never confuse movement with progress. Because you can run in place and not get anywhere.” – Denzel Washington
90. “Never help an ungrateful person get up on their feet. It’s like telling a wolf that you’re a sheep.” – Denzel Washington
91. “Nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.” – Denzel Washington
92. “Old man’s gotta be the old man, fish has gotta be the fish. You gotta be who you are in this world, no matter what.” – Denzel Washington
93. “On the path to success, there is always going to be an opportunity to help someone else be successful too.” – Denzel Washington
94. “One failed experiment is one step closer to success.” – Denzel Washington
95. “One good thing about acting in the film is that its good therapy.” – Denzel Washington
96. “Put God first in everything you do. Everything that I have is by the grace of God, I understand that. It’s a gift. I didn’t always stick with Him, but He stuck with me.” – Denzel Washington
97. “So you never know who you touch. You never know how or when you’ll have an impact, or how important your example can be to someone else.” – Denzel Washington
98. “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.” – Denzel Washington
99. “Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.” – Denzel Washington
100. “The chances you take, the people you meet, the people you love, the faith that you have. That’s what’s going to define you.” – Denzel Washington
101. “The last few years I’ve been saying I was ready to quit. It wasn’t that interesting to me. Now that I’m directing, it’s all new again.” – Denzel Washington
102. “The only thing stopping you from achieving your dreams are the stories you keep telling yourself that you can’t. Don’t wait – act now. Regret nothing.” – Denzel Washington
103. “The poorest people are the sweetest people.” – Denzel Washington
104. “The purpose of war is to serve a political end but the true nature of war is to serve itself.” – Denzel Washington
105. “The time to worrying about flying is when you’re on the ground. When you’re up in the air, it’s too late. No point in worrying about it then.” – Denzel Washington
106. “There are two kinds of pain in this world. The pain that hurts, the pain that alters.” – Denzel Washington
107. “There is a lot of joy to be found in reflecting upon your experiences as you work towards your dreams. Learn to laugh at your failures, smile at your wins and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself.” – Denzel Washington
108. “There’s nothing good or bad, except by comparison.” – Denzel Washington
109. “To protect the sheep, you gotta catch the wolf. And it takes a wolf to catch a wolf, you understand?” – Denzel Washington
110. “True desire in the heart for anything good is God’s proof to you sent beforehand to indicate that it’s yours already.” – Denzel Washington
111. “Trust yourself and trust your choices.” – Denzel Washington
112. “We do what we have to so we can do what we want to.” – Denzel Washington
113. “We have all received our share of good fortune, so that’s my definition of much. A single blessing is all the bounty in the world, and if you’ve been blessed at all you’re meant to pass some of that on. You’re meant to set a positive example. That’s our responsibility.” – Denzel Washington
114. “What are you doing extra? That’s what counts. That’s when you’re working hard – when you’re going above and over what’s expected of you.” – Denzel Washington
115. “What it taught me was forgiveness. It taught me that when people present themselves in a certain way, there’s probably some back story or issue or reason for the way that they are. It’s not you. It’s them. And a lot of times, its about something that’s completely out of their control.” – Denzel Washington
116. “When I did A Soldier’s Story, I was very young and green and thought I knew everything-now I know I know everything!” – Denzel Washington
117. “When I was a child I thought I saw an angel. It had wings and kinda looked like my sister. I opened the door so some light could come into the room, and it sort of faded away. My mother said it was probably my Guardian Angel.” – Denzel Washington
118. “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.” – Denzel Washington
119. “When you do good, you get good! Fulfillment comes from serving others, not just hustling to serve yourself.” – Denzel Washington
120. “When you do good, you get good! Fulfilment comes from serving others, not just hustling to serve yourself. On the path to success, there is always going to be an opportunity to help someone else be successful too. Take that opportunity, and be the kind of person who makes a difference in the lives of others.” – Denzel Washington
121. “When you don’t understand something, you label it and condemn it.” – Denzel Washington
122. “Where I think the most work needs to be done is behind the camera, not in front of it.” – Denzel Washington
123. “Why do we close our eyes when we pray, cry, kiss, or dream? Because the most beautiful things in life are not seen but felt by the heart.” – Denzel Washington
124. “Writing is a weapon and its more powerful than a fist could ever be.” – Denzel Washington
125. “You can beat or jail me or even kill me, but I am not going to be what you want me to be!” – Denzel Washington
126. “You can’t break me because you didn’t make me.” – Denzel Washington
127. “You don’t know when you’re being watched. That’s one of the weird things about celebrity. It’s my least favorite part of acting, celebrity.” – Denzel Washington
128. “You have to grab moments when they happen. I like to improvise and ad lib.” – Denzel Washington
129. “You never know how you’re going to affect people.” – Denzel Washington
130. “You practice anything a long time, you get good at it. You tell a hundred lies a day, it sounds like the truth. Everyone betrays everyone.” – Denzel Washington
131. “You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it.” – Denzel Washington