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David Carradine Quotes

Powerful David Carradine for Daily Growth

About David Carradine

David Carradine, born on December 8, 1936, in Hollywood, California, was an American actor best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine in the television series "Kung Fu" (1972-1975). The son of legendary actor John Carradine, David grew up surrounded by the arts and developed a deep interest in acting at an early age. Carradine's career began in the 1960s with small roles in movies and television shows. However, it was his portrayal of Caine, a wandering Shaolin monk, that catapulted him to international fame. The show, which combined martial arts sequences with philosophical teachings, was a groundbreaking success and became a cultural phenomenon. In the 1970s, Carradine also appeared in several other notable films, including "The Wild Bunch" (1969), "Death Race 2000" (1975), and "Kill Bill: Volume 1 & 2" (2003, 2004). His later career saw him returning to television with roles in shows like "Dynasty," "Stargate SG-1," and "Law & Order." Carradine's personal life was marked by struggles, including a battle with drug addiction. However, he remained dedicated to his craft, continuing to act until his death on June 3, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand, at the age of 72. Throughout his career, David Carradine's unique charisma and versatility as an actor left a lasting impact on popular culture. Some of his most memorable quotes include: 1. "It's not about being good or bad. It's about what happens to you." 2. "To be honest, I don't care too much for people who are only interested in the physical aspects of martial arts because that's only a small part of it." 3. "I think that life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us what we are." These quotes reflect Carradine's philosophical outlook on life and his deep understanding of the human condition, making him not just an iconic actor but also a thought-provoking figure in popular culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."

This quote by David Carradine implies that one cannot control external circumstances or obstacles (the wind), but they can control their response or actions (adjusting their sails). Essentially, it suggests resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity, emphasizing that while we can't change everything around us, we can make adjustments to reach our goals or destinations.

"The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you put up with nonsense."

This quote emphasizes personal self-awareness and assertiveness. By knowing oneself – understanding one's values, goals, and identity – an individual becomes empowered to recognize and reject unnecessary or detrimental situations and interactions. It encourages individuals to prioritize their well-being and focus on pursuing what truly matters to them in life, rather than wasting time or energy on things that do not align with their authentic selves.

"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even if it is for a brief moment. If we succeed in the end, what that has done to us will amortize over our life."

David Carradine's quote suggests that life is made up of various experiences, and each experience contributes to our personal growth, no matter how fleeting or seemingly insignificant the momentary impact may be. The idea is that these experiences shape us in profound ways, making us "bigger" people over time. Additionally, success, whether it refers to the outcome of a single event or an overall life achievement, has a lasting effect on our character and outlook, influencing us for the entirety of our lives. In essence, Carradine is saying that our experiences and achievements mold us, leaving an indelible mark on who we become over the course of our lives.

"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you’re with."

The quote by David Carradine, "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you’re with," is a call to appreciate and cherish the people currently in our lives when we cannot be with someone else who holds our affections. It encourages us to find joy and contentment in our present relationships instead of longing for what we can't have, recognizing that love and happiness can be found in many different forms.

"The only thing I ever learned from my father was how to carry a gun, and it's not been much use to me."

This quote by David Carradine suggests that the skill his father taught him - carrying a gun - has not proven particularly useful in his life experiences. It implies that although mastering such a practical skill might seem valuable, it may not translate into broader or more significant life lessons or achievements. The speaker seems to emphasize the importance of acquiring skills or knowledge beyond mere practicality, as these may offer more enduring benefits in navigating life's challenges.

I don't need to convince anybody that I know kung fu, but maybe somebody needs to know that I really can act, without doing a Chinese accent or a funny walk.

- David Carradine

Doing, Need, Needs, Chinese

I'm like a renegade and that rubs people wrong.

- David Carradine

People, Like, Renegade, Rubs

It's weird, because everywhere I go, people yell, 'Grasshopper!' or 'Bill!' but down there in Mexico or Colombia or anywhere in South America or most of Europe, people will yell, 'Serpent's Egg!' And I'll go, 'Wow, man, these people are really hip.'

- David Carradine

Egg, South, Anywhere, Mexico

If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.

- David Carradine

Poetry, Poet, Cannot, Poem

Quentin wanted to create this special world in which everybody walks around with a samurai sword, extras in the airport, a special little place in the airplane to stick your samurai sword.

- David Carradine

Everybody, Your, Which, Sword

The one thing about doing all those movies and all that television is I know what I'm doing. And I can do what Sean Connery can do. I can do what Clint can do. People even say I look a little like Clint. But that's just because I'm skinny and tall and old. With a receding hairline.

- David Carradine

Doing, About, Clint, None

It was pretty extensive - we worked out 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 3 months, which I think is more than anybody in the Olympics. I thought well I don't need this, the girls need it, but it was a gift.

- David Carradine

Gift, Week, I Think, Extensive

I think people are a little surprised sometimes at the level on which I actually talk. I don't talk like Caine. And every once in a while, somebody is surprised because I smoke and I drink. But I don't feel that is a contradiction.

- David Carradine

Think, I Think, Which, Surprised

There was an incident in Argentina when I was making a film called 'The Warrior and the Sorceress.' There were, like, 40, 50 sword fighters and martial artists on the set, and one of the sword fighters challenged me. I said, 'Look, you don't want to fight me. Nobody wants to fight me. You gotta be crazy to want to fight me.'

- David Carradine

Warrior, Argentina, Fighters

I've worked with a lot of real heavy hitters, and Quentin is maybe heads and shoulders, at least a forehead, above just about anybody I've ever worked with.

- David Carradine

Shoulders, Maybe, Anybody, Hitters

There's tons of members of the Carradine family. It's more like a clan than it is like a family, and it's rare that we can get a bunch of them together. We do once in a while.

- David Carradine

More, Like, Them, Tons

Because you know how you say I've got to really get down and really do some training and then of course, you never do or you do it for a couple of weeks and slough it back off again but I'm being forced to do something that I really want to do and I loved it.

- David Carradine

Some, Couple, Weeks, Slough

Tarantino is the coolest damn guy; he's just so much fun to work with. He might be the best director I've ever worked with. He just seems to know how to do it and he knows how to make you feel good about it. He's having so much fun you start having fun. You can't help it.

- David Carradine

Feel, Guy, About, Coolest

I like Bill a lot. As Bill is presented, I mean you don't ever see Bill blow her head off? You know? And I think what Quentin has done is he created a monster.

- David Carradine

Think, Like, I Think, Blow

The first important role was a Broadway lead I did called 'The Royal Hunt Of The Sun' by Peter Shaffer, the guy who did 'Equus' and 'Amadeus.' Many of the important roles that I got later on were because the guy who was going to hire me was in that audience and had his mind blown. I tend to do that. I blow people's minds with my performances.

- David Carradine

Hire, Role, Broadway, Blow

In the second installment, I pretty much dominate the show. Somehow or another, though, I manage to apparently dominate the first show pretty well with just my voice and my hands and a shot of my boots kicking cartridges out of the way.

- David Carradine

Voice, Hands, Pretty, Manage

Well I would never say to anybody that Warren Beatty got fired, but uh, I think he and Quentin fell out of love, and I think Warren told Quentin to hire me for the film.

- David Carradine

Love, Think, Fired, Warren

I've never been in prison. I've been in jail a lot. But I've never actually been sentenced to anything.

- David Carradine

Never, Lot, Actually, Sentenced

I've known Daryl Hannah for 20 years. She's kind of a friend of the family. Anyway, I've been hot for her ever since 'Blade Runner.'

- David Carradine

Kind, Been, Hannah, Runner

Quentin is very organic; there was no way that he was going to put someone else's hand in there and anyway, my hands are kind of famous. It seemed right.

- David Carradine

Hands, Famous, Very, Organic

'Kung Fu' was never cancelled; I just left. I decided I had enough of it, and I thought I should do a movie right away, because I think when you leave a television series, it's important that you establish the fact that you're a movie actor really quickly, or you might never get that chance.

- David Carradine

Fact, Away, I Think, Establish

My role in kung fu - in the art of kung fu, not the series - is not as a practitioner. My role is that of an evangelist, which is an entirely different thing.

- David Carradine

Art, Role, Which, Evangelist

Quentin Tarantino doesn't beat Hal Ashby, and he's one of my favorite directors. Quentin is incredible.

- David Carradine

Incredible, Directors, Hal

Kung fu: You've got to spend your whole life at it before you're kung fu.

- David Carradine

Before, Spend, Whole, Kung

My big fight is not in the movie and I don't understand that decision but I know he's right about it, whatever it is. Quentin did not hire me because I'm a kung fu expert; he hired me because he liked to listen to me talk.

- David Carradine

Big, Expert, Movie, Kung

I was involved in a web cartoon of Kung Fu with WB a few years back.

- David Carradine

Cartoon, Web, Involved, Kung

I went to college at San Francisco State and supported myself working the graveyard shift at a brewery and did a little theater. It was great. I'd do Shakespeare and stuff like that.

- David Carradine

College, Francisco, San, Graveyard

But, Tarantino has seen all of my movies. He's seen my good stuff, he's seen my bad stuff, he's seen the ones I directed, he's read my autobiography. There's an awful lot of things he knows about me, all of which I think had something to do with his casting.

- David Carradine

Bad, I Think, Awful Lot, Casting

I did get to hang out with my dad for a little while. I went with him to summer stock. I watched him be a real king of the world. He'd ship out as a star in summer stock. He sometimes directed the shows. I learned a lot from him - not just about acting, but about everything, how to handle a woman.

- David Carradine

Woman, Hang, Dad, Stock

You know, I've never actually really believed that death is inevitable. I just think it's a rumor.

- David Carradine

Death, Think, Inevitable, Believed

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