Conrad Veidt Quotes

Powerful Conrad Veidt for Daily Growth

About Conrad Veidt

Conrad Veidt (March 23, 1893 – October 3, 1943) was a German actor of stage and screen who made significant contributions to both German and British film industries during his short but impactful career spanning from the early 1900s until his untimely death in 1943. Born as Georg Konrad Mendel Veidt in Berlin, Germany, Veidt displayed an interest in acting at a young age and pursued it by joining Max Reinhardt's Deutsches Theater. His exceptional talent was quickly recognized, leading to his first film role in 1912. Veidt gained international fame after portraying the villainous character of Gwynplaine in the 1925 German-British silent film "The Man Who Laughs." This role cemented his status as one of Germany's foremost actors and established a pattern of playing complex, often morally ambiguous characters. In 1933, with the rise of the Nazi regime, Veidt decided to leave Germany and move to Britain. He found success in British cinema, starring in films such as "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1934), "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back" (1934), and "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940). Despite his achievements, Veidt remained a private individual who rarely spoke about his personal life. He was married twice, first to actress Elisabeth Wendler from 1922 until their divorce in 1932, and secondly to actress Hilda Bara from 1938 until his death. Tragically, Veidt's life was cut short by a heart attack at the age of 50. Despite his relatively brief career, he left an indelible mark on cinema history, influencing future generations of actors and filmmakers with his versatile performances in both German Expressionist films and British productions.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We are all of us stars, and we must shine."

This quote by Conrad Veidt emphasizes the inherent greatness within each individual. He suggests that everyone has the potential to shine, to make a significant impact or contribution, just as a star does in the universe. It encourages us to recognize and actualize our unique talents, aspirations, and contributions towards making the world a brighter place. The quote serves as a reminder of our importance and the impact we can have when we embrace our inner light and share it with others.

"The great secret is to be always what you can afford to be."

This quote by Conrad Veidt emphasizes self-authenticity and financial responsibility. In other words, one should strive to live in a manner that reflects their true character and values, yet remains financially sustainable. This doesn't necessarily mean accumulating wealth or status symbols, but rather living within your means while being true to yourself. It encourages individuals to avoid living beyond their means, maintaining a balance between personal identity and financial prudence.

"Fear is the enemy of the human race."

This quote emphasizes that fear, an intrinsic human emotion, can be detrimental to humanity as a whole. By allowing fear to control us, we limit our potential for growth, exploration, and understanding. Fear hinders progress, promotes conservatism, and encourages us to avoid risk-taking, thus impeding human development on both individual and societal levels. To overcome this enemy, humanity must strive to face its fears, challenge them, and ultimately conquer them, in order to advance and thrive.

"I have often thought that if happiness were a pursuit, like science or art, it would be entirely unscientific and anti-artistic to make one's subject matter other people's unhappiness."

This quote by Conrad Veidt suggests that focusing on others' misery or unhappiness as a means of finding one's own happiness is unproductive, unscientific (unfounded in knowledge or reason), and anti-artistic (going against the essence of creativity, which typically seeks beauty and harmony). Instead, Veidt seems to advocate for personal growth and self-discovery through pursuits such as science or art, where happiness can be found in understanding, creation, and expression rather than relying on others' suffering.

"The past is never dead. It's not even past." (This quote was actually made famous by William Faulkner, but Conrad Veidt is known for often being mistakenly associated with it due to his role in the film "Intruder in the Dust" based on Faulkner's novel.)

This quote suggests that the past continues to influence the present, and it doesn't simply disappear or become irrelevant over time. Instead, the events, decisions, and legacies of the past linger and have a lasting impact on our lives and society today. Therefore, understanding the past is crucial for comprehending and navigating the present and future.

So now it is time to disassemble the parts of the jigsaw puzzle or to piece another one together, for I find that, having come to the end of my story, my life is just beginning.

- Conrad Veidt

Beginning, My Life, Having, Jigsaw

I was appalled at the amount of study necessary in order to qualify in medicine, and gradually my desire was blunted by a keener - and secret - wish to become an actor.

- Conrad Veidt

Study, Amount, Blunted, Keener

I wish, naturally to prevent the possibility that someone may write an accidental, superficial, incomplete and perhaps untrue picture of me.

- Conrad Veidt

I Wish, May, Untrue, Incomplete

My birth neither shook the German Empire nor caused much of an upheaval in the home. It pleased mother, caused father a certain amount of pride and my elder brother the usual fraternal jealousy of a hitherto only son.

- Conrad Veidt

Father, German, Elder, Fraternal

Looking back across the years, so many pictures flash on the screen of my memory that just as I begin to see one clearly, another slides in, blotting out the first, itself to be pushed aside by the next and the next and the next.

- Conrad Veidt

Looking Back, Next, Slides, Flash

I turned down the first script offered to me, and the second. I lay on my back one day under an umbrella, in the garden, reading the third, and wondered why I had turned down the first.

- Conrad Veidt

Umbrella, Turned, Lay, Garden

I think the motion picture industry is a stupid business and I despise acting the scenes in short snatches, one at a time. I hate this film work. I am disgusted with myself. On the stage I could never play a part unless I felt it with all my heart and soul.

- Conrad Veidt

Stupid, Play, I Think, Disgusted

There must have been something in my nature - I believe, with all my heart, that I have conquered it now - which prevented me from being perfectly happy or making a woman perfectly happy.

- Conrad Veidt

Making, Been, Which, All My Heart

In the middle of my third Hollywood picture The Magician, the earthquake hit Hollywood. Not the real earthquake. Just the talkies.

- Conrad Veidt

Middle, Hollywood, Hit, Magician

It is precisely as though I were possessed by some other spirit when I enter on a new task of acting, as though something within me presses a switch and my own consciousness merges into some other, greater, more vital being.

- Conrad Veidt

Own, Some, Other, Switch

I have no illusions about my art. I am what the public made me and, consequently, I am not likely to forget my debt to them.

- Conrad Veidt

Art, Made, Likely, Illusions

What use is there for a biography of myself? I'm just a movie actor.

- Conrad Veidt

Actor, Movie, Use, Movie Actor

I was never a villain on the stage. I always played strong, sympathetic types. My first stage role with a speaking part, believe it or not, was as a priest. It wasn't until I began acting in films that the producers and directors saw me primarily as a bizarre villain.

- Conrad Veidt

Strong, Villain, Role, Producers

An actor remembers his first piece of published praise. It is written on his heart.

- Conrad Veidt

Actor, His, Piece, Published

For me, half the joy of achieving has been the struggle and the fight, the pitting myself against the world and all its competition - and winning.

- Conrad Veidt

Winning, Been, Half, Pitting

After my mother died, I found, a little book of hers which recorded everything I had ever done, how I had done it, and how proud she was of her son Conrad.

- Conrad Veidt

Book, Proud, Which, Hers

It is my greatest joy to live a really good part, even though it imposes great strain. An artist is tired but proud when he has created a great work of art. So it is with the actor who really lives a great role and is proud of the part he played.

- Conrad Veidt

Artist, Role, Part, Great Strain

Have you ever walked late at night through a forest when you are first in love?

- Conrad Veidt

Love, Through, Ever, Walked

I used to think then that I was Bohemian, but I know now that I am not. I prefer order and precision to untidiness and looseness.

- Conrad Veidt

Think, Precision, Prefer, Bohemian

Nothing seems to come up to your expectations. But nothing I had heard about Hollywood was enough.

- Conrad Veidt

Nothing, Hollywood, About, Expectations

My father died. It is still a deep regret to me this day that in choosing acting as my career I was forced to hurt him. He died too early to see I had done the right, the only thing.

- Conrad Veidt

Deep, Regret, Career, Choosing

I can see now that I should have been strong enough to conquer myself.

- Conrad Veidt

Strong, See, Been, Conquer

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