"I am not my résumé."
David Oyelowo's quote, "I am not my resume," implies that a person's identity or worth should not be limited to their accomplishments, experiences, or professional background as represented in a resume. Instead, it suggests that one's true self transcends these tangible aspects and encompasses unique qualities, emotions, aspirations, and intangible traits that cannot be easily summarized on paper. This powerful statement encourages individuals to recognize and embrace their inner selves beyond what is documented in their resumes or career profiles.
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
This quote emphasizes the importance of having a strong sense of values and principles in life. It suggests that without a clear understanding of what one stands for, one risks being influenced or led astray by whatever comes their way. In other words, it underscores the significance of maintaining personal integrity and living according to one's convictions.
"Success is a journey, not a destination."
David Oyelowo's quote emphasizes that success is not an end point to be achieved but rather a continuous process or journey. It suggests that the true value lies in the steps taken, the lessons learned, and the character built along the way, as opposed to merely reaching a final destination. This perspective encourages individuals to focus on personal growth, resilience, and perseverance throughout their pursuit of success.
"You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, but if you're in a jar of pickles, you're still a pickle."
This quote emphasizes that even when we possess great qualities or potential (like being the "ripest, juiciest peach"), our environment can influence how we are perceived or what we become (being "in a jar of pickles"). It encourages us to carefully consider the context in which we exist and make conscious efforts to avoid situations that may negatively impact our true nature or growth. In other words, it's important to ensure we don't let ourselves be defined by external circumstances and instead strive to fulfill our potential authentically.
"The greatest challenge for us as artists is to make the familiar unfamiliar and the unfamiliar familiar."
David Oyelowo's quote highlights the importance of innovation and creativity in art, suggesting that artists should strive to reimagine and recontextualize common themes or ideas, making them fresh and engaging for audiences. On the other hand, they also should make the unfamiliar relatable and understandable by exploring new perspectives or approaches, thus broadening and deepening our understanding of the world around us. Essentially, he is emphasizing the dual role of artists: to challenge and expand our perceptions while still connecting with our shared human experiences.
If you look at your companies, and half of your staff are not female, and a decent percentage of them are not people of color, then you are part of the problem because you need people working for you and you need people in positions of leadership who can exercise their bias and who can exercise their perspective.
- David Oyelowo
In my time since moving to the United States, I've found that there is a dearth of great writing for black people. There are stories that depict us in a way that isn't cliched or niche, and that a white person, a Chinese person, an Indian person can watch and relate to. Those are the stories I want to be a part of telling.
- David Oyelowo
We all have cultural bias, racial bias. One of the difficult things around this subject matter is to deny that we have places we go to subconsciously, and unless you consciously decide that that's wrong and you've got to do something about it, especially if you're in a position of power, it won't change.
- David Oyelowo
The only way we are going to get diversity is if the demographics of the decision-makers change... The odd-token bone thrown is not going to do it. Don't pat yourself on the back because you made that black drama; that's not diversity. It's got to be baked into the foundation of where the ideas flow from.
- David Oyelowo
I know I had my equivalents in Adrian Lester and Lenny James when I was at drama school. I remember David Harewood doing 'Othello' at the National, and Adrian Lester having done Cheek by Jowl's famous 'As You Like It and Company' at the Donmar. Not necessarily performances I saw, but just the fact they happened was massively encouraging.
- David Oyelowo
We start 'The Butler' in June and that's incredibly exciting for me because I get to work with the amazing Forest Whitaker again. It's a phenomenal script and a great, great role - I play his son. Oprah Winfrey is his wife and my mother. My character is a radical civil rights activist.
- David Oyelowo
For me, I'm always looking for opportunities to work with people who are better than me, who are more experienced than me, people from whom I can learn. And who could I learn more from than someone with an unprecedented movie star career that has spanned over thirty years whose name is Tom Cruise?
- David Oyelowo
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