Adam Arkin Quotes

Powerful Adam Arkin for Daily Growth

About Adam Arkin

Adam Arkin (born April 24, 1956) is an accomplished American actor, screenwriter, director, and playwright, renowned for his versatile roles in film, television, and theatre. Born in Queens, New York, Arkin was raised by parents who were both educators, instilling in him a love for learning that would later manifest in his creative pursuits. He attended the State University of New York at Binghamton before moving to California to study acting at San Francisco State University and the American Conservatory Theatre. Arkin's career began in the late 1970s with small roles in television shows like 'M*A*S*H' and 'Lou Grant.' His breakthrough came in the early 1980s with his role as David Morgenstern on the popular NBC drama 'Hill Street Blues,' a performance that earned him three Emmy Award nominations. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Arkin continued to excel in television roles, including appearances in 'St. Elsewhere,' 'ER,' and 'The West Wing.' His film work during this period includes notable performances in 'Patriot Games,' 'Clear and Present Danger,' 'Fatal Attraction,' and 'Rumor Has It...' As a screenwriter, Arkin has penned several acclaimed works, including the Emmy Award-winning television movie 'A Year in the Life' (1991) and the critically acclaimed film 'The Gingerbread Man' (1998). His directorial debut was with the 2003 drama 'Life During Wartime,' which he also wrote. In addition to his work in front of the camera, Arkin has made significant contributions to theatre, both as an actor and a playwright. He is the author of numerous plays, including 'The Long Christmas Ride Home' (1993), which was produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club and starred Arkin himself. Today, Adam Arkin continues to act, write, and direct, demonstrating a commitment to artistry that spans over four decades. His work serves as a testament to his talent, versatility, and enduring appeal in the world of entertainment.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

This quote by Adam Arkin emphasizes personal responsibility in shaping one's own future. The idea is that instead of passively waiting for events to unfold, we should actively engage in creating the future we desire through our actions, decisions, and efforts. It encourages proactivity and self-determination, suggesting that the power to shape our destiny lies within us, rather than relying on mere predictions or external factors.


"Don't wait for opportunity, create it."

This quote suggests that instead of passively waiting for an opportunity to come along, one should actively create opportunities themselves. It encourages proactive behavior, urging individuals to take control of their own destinies by identifying needs or gaps in their environment, and then creating solutions or filling those gaps accordingly. Essentially, it's a call to action, inspiring people to be self-starters and innovators.


"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

This quote by Adam Arkin suggests that instead of passively discovering who we are, we should actively shape and create ourselves. It encourages personal growth, self-determination, and the idea that our identity and purpose in life are not predestined but can be crafted through experiences, choices, and actions. Essentially, it's a call to embrace our capacity for change and self-improvement.


"You are the only one who can decide what you are going to do with your life. The choices you make are up to you."

This quote emphasizes personal responsibility and self-determination. It suggests that individuals have the power to shape their own lives by making conscious decisions about their actions, goals, and pursuits. The quote underscores the idea that while external circumstances may impact one's life, it is ultimately up to each person to decide how they will respond and navigate through those situations. In other words, we are in control of our destiny and must take ownership of the choices we make to create the life we desire.


"If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission."

This quote by Adam Arkin encourages individuals to take personal responsibility and initiative in their pursuit of success. It suggests that waiting for approval or validation from others can hinder one's progress towards achieving greatness. Instead, it advises that if you have a goal or dream, seize the opportunity to work towards it without being held back by seeking permission or external validation. This mindset empowers individuals to embrace their potential and strive for excellence in their own unique way.


I think that's created a healthy environment. The comparisons to 'ER' were maddening and there was this assumption that the two of us were looking at each other with rage and resentment, which was also not the case.

- Adam Arkin

Think, Other, Which, Maddening

The idea of it becomes a little freaky if you're dealing with someone who has trouble differentiating between fantasy and reality, but that's a concern no matter what kind of movie you're dealing with.

- Adam Arkin

Fantasy, Movie, Dealing, Freaky

It's a lot of work and I also feel like I've done it. I miss comedy. And I also think that, from purely a logistical standpoint, that the day-to-day schedule on a comedy allows you to have a life, much more of a life, than on a drama.

- Adam Arkin

Feel, Purely, Logistical, Standpoint

People can get obsessed with romance, they can get obsessed with political paranoia, they can get obsessed with horror. It's isn't the fault of the subject matter that creates the obsession, I don't think.

- Adam Arkin

Think, Romance, Obsessed, Paranoia

To confront those fears, in a controlled environment, where there's 300 people around you going through the same thing, it's this weird sort of yin and yang.

- Adam Arkin

Through, Going, Same Thing, Yang

I really would have been stupid not to have done it. It was also a film that was actually happening, I mean, Miramax was doing it, and it had a kind of legitimacy to it. And once I read the script, I was there.

- Adam Arkin

Stupid, Doing, Been, Legitimacy

We all look to have transcendent experiences that lift us out of the everyday, and fear is a good one. But, I think it's the same reason why people want to laugh their heads off.

- Adam Arkin

Think, Reason, I Think, Everyday

The place was crawling with youngsters. It was good, because the kids were good. I can't make a general assumption. Again, you're probably getting, as a general theme from me, that I don't make a lot of broad, sweeping rules about movies.

- Adam Arkin

Rules, About, Youngsters, Crawling

I think in the case of horror, it's a chance to confront a lot of your worse fears and those fears usually have to do, ironically, with powerlessness and isolation.

- Adam Arkin

Think, Horror, Powerlessness, Ironically

I can't imagine that I would have been cast in the role, without Jamie Lee giving me a thumbs up.

- Adam Arkin

Role, Been, Imagine, Jamie

It's amazing that this is still news to people, but that affects the final outcome of the film. When people are treated well, and they're made to feel valued, they give 110 percent.

- Adam Arkin

News, Give, Treated, Outcome

I feel like Josh, Michelle and Adam were all team players, who wanted to be a part of an ensemble.

- Adam Arkin

Like, Adam, Michelle, Josh

It's the same thing that drives people to want to experience sexual pleasure or have one too many drinks. We all want to experience the other, and to get out of our daily existence.

- Adam Arkin

Pleasure, Other, Same Thing, Sexual

I want to continue doing as big a variety of things as I can do, and if that means I have the honor of getting to do more feature work, I would love that. I know that if I make any other long-term TV commitments, it's not going to be on a drama.

- Adam Arkin

Love, Doing, Big, Long-Term

You're going through the horror of it, you're going through the isolation of it but you're being empowered by reminding yourself that you're connected to everybody else.

- Adam Arkin

Through, Horror, Everybody, Everybody Else

What I had to say was, in general, I'm not really a fan of any one genre of any kind of film.

- Adam Arkin

Kind, Fan, General, Genre

First and foremost, it was fun. Everybody involved with it made you feel like they were an important contributor to the process. We were made to feel valued.

- Adam Arkin

Process, Like, Everybody, Contributor

I'm always honored, but I think for every 100 of those that come along, one of them is actually going to happen. And, the fact that this was an offer on a major film that had a start date, was pretty impressive.

- Adam Arkin

Fact, Date, I Think, Impressive

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