Hugh Laurie Quotes

Powerful Hugh Laurie for Daily Growth

About Hugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie, born James Hugh Calum Laurie on June 11, 1959, is a British actor, musician, and author primarily known for his role as Dr. Gregory House in the popular television series "House." Born to a father who was a physician and a mother who was a showgirl and dancer, Laurie's early years were heavily influenced by his parents' diverse backgrounds. He spent much of his childhood in Oxford, where he developed a passion for performing through school plays. This passion led him to study History at Cambridge University, where he met his long-time collaborator Stephen Fry and the duo formed the comedy double act "Fry and Laurie." Their collaboration resulted in numerous sketch shows, most notably "A Bit of Fry & Laurie" (1989-1995). After this, Laurie ventured into movies, appearing in films like "Sense and Sensibility" (1995), "Stuart Little" (1999), and "101 Dalmatians" (1996). However, it was his portrayal of the eccentric Dr. Gregory House in "House" (2004-2012) that catapulted him to international fame. The show won numerous awards and Laurie received multiple Golden Globe Awards for his performance. In addition to acting, Laurie is also a proficient blues pianist and singer. He released four studio albums under the name 'Hugh Laurie.' As an author, he published "The Paper Chase," a collection of short stories in 2010, and the novels "The Gun Seller" (1996) and "The Copperhead" (2007). Laurie's career spans across different mediums, showcasing his versatility as an artist. He continues to act in films and television shows while also pursuing his musical interests and writing endeavors.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

This quote suggests that the most effective manipulation or deception is when one denies their own existence, thereby casting doubt on their impact or influence. In a broader sense, it can be interpreted as a warning against underestimating or ignoring hidden forces or threats that may seemingly have no presence but significantly shape our world or beliefs. It encourages vigilance and critical thinking to recognize and confront such deceitful elements.


"It's a very British thing to not want to talk too much about what you're doing."

This quote by Hugh Laurie emphasizes a common cultural trait in Britain, characterized by a propensity for understatement and modesty. It suggests that Britons often prefer to maintain privacy regarding their activities or endeavors, choosing instead to avoid excessive self-promotion or unnecessary detail. This behavior is rooted in cultural norms that value politeness, reserve, and humility.


"I think I am probably more interested in the dark side than most people are, but it doesn't mean that's all there is."

This quote suggests that while Hugh Laurie may have a natural inclination towards the mysterious, enigmatic or complex aspects of life (often associated with the "dark side"), he does not equate this fascination with a comprehensive view of reality. Instead, it indicates his belief that there is more to life than just the dark or negative elements. This perspective can be interpreted as a reminder to maintain balance and seek understanding in both light and dark aspects of existence.


"I'm hugely suspicious of anyone who claims to be an expert on anything at all."

This quote suggests that Hugh Laurie believes that it is unwise to trust people who claim to have absolute knowledge or expertise in a specific area, as such claims are often exaggerated or misleading. He likely holds the view that genuine learning and understanding should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than something fixed and definite. In essence, this quote encourages humility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to continue learning throughout one's life.


"Life is a mystery-everyone must solve it for himself. Some peeped behind the curtain, and were shot."

This quote by Hugh Laurie suggests that life holds many unknowns and mysteries, each person must find their own path to understanding. The "curtain" here represents the secrets or truths of life, which, when revealed prematurely or recklessly, can bring harm or danger. In essence, Laurie is cautioning us to tread carefully in our pursuit of knowledge and truth, implying that some secrets are better left undiscovered or discovered at the right time.


I never went to drama school, I don't have any certificates saying: 'He's a qualified actor.' But I did think that 'House' was something I didn't have to apologise for. It was something I was really proud of and it was sort of... whether you liked it or not, it was undeniable.

- Hugh Laurie

House, Undeniable, Apologise, Qualified

One great benefit of not being on TV every week is that people will be a lot less interested in what I have in my supermarket basket. I could even un-tint my car windows - or at least opt for a lighter shade.

- Hugh Laurie

Week, Basket, TV, Lighter

The strange thing - and this is one of the advantages of being incredibly shallow and superficial - is that wherever I am, that's sort of home.

- Hugh Laurie

Being, Sort, Am, Strange Thing

I think there is a basic comfort in clever people who know things.

- Hugh Laurie

Clever, Think, I Think, Clever People

I have always stuck up for Western medicine. You can chew all the celery you want, but without antibiotics, three quarters of us would not be here.

- Hugh Laurie

Want, Here, Always, Chew

As a real person, he wouldn't last a minute, would he? But drama is about imperfection. And we've moved away from the aspirational hero. We got tired of it, it was dull. If I was House's friend, I would hate it. How he so resolutely refuses to be happy or take the kind-hearted road. But we don't always like morally good people, do we?

- Hugh Laurie

Happy, Away, Moved, Morally

I couldn't imagine what Fox thought they were doing, contemplating such a jagged protagonist for a prime-time drama. I only knew that I wanted the role very much.

- Hugh Laurie

Doing, Very, Imagine, Contemplating

I don't have a single complete show or movie or anything else that I could look at and say, 'Nailed that one.' But endless dissatisfaction is, I suppose, what gets us out of bed in the morning.

- Hugh Laurie

Bed, Movie, Could, Dissatisfaction

I feel when acting, I am sometimes overly self-conscious; I think, 'Going, no, don't, put your eyebrow back where it was and, you know, turn to the left.' You know, I'm sort of very consciously adopting this character. But with music, I don't know. I found it was a question of just closing my eyes and just sort of letting things come out.

- Hugh Laurie

Sometimes, I Think, Very, Overly

I have been instrumental in banning bottled water on the set. It hasn't gone that well with the crew... so I replaced it with tequila.

- Hugh Laurie

Been, Set, Replaced, Banning

Music is one of the noblest callings I can think of. It's the highest of all the art forms to me. For example, if my kid said to me, 'I want to give it all up,' whatever it is that they're doing, 'and I want to take my saxophone and go out,' I would say, 'May God go with you. This is a great and noble thing that you're doing.'

- Hugh Laurie

Doing, Kid, Saxophone, Art Forms

Directing is the best job going. I don't understand why everybody doesn't want to direct. It's an absolutely fascinating combination of skills required and puzzles set on every level - emotional and practical and technical. It calls up on such a wide variety of skills. I find it completely absorbing. I just love the whole process.

- Hugh Laurie

Love, Everybody, Technical, Puzzles

I don't really understand why everybody doesn't want to direct. It's an absolutely fascinating combination of skills required and puzzles set on every possible level, emotional and practical and technical. It calls upon such a wide variety of skills. I find it completely absorbing.

- Hugh Laurie

Everybody, Technical, Direct, Puzzles

Girls are complicated. The instruction manual that comes with girls is 800 pages, with chapters 14, 19, 26 and 32 missing, and it's badly translated, hard to figure out.

- Hugh Laurie

Chapters, Badly, Figure, Missing

I get anxious about a lot of things, that's the trouble. I get anxious about everything. I just can't stop thinking about things all the time. And here's the really destructive part - it's always retrospective. I waste time thinking of what I should have said or done.

- Hugh Laurie

Waste Time, Here, Part, Retrospective

Driving a motorcycle is like flying. All your senses are alive. When I ride through Beverly Hills in the early morning, and all the sprinklers have turned off, the scents that wash over me are just heavenly. Being House is like flying, too. You're free of the gravity of what people think.

- Hugh Laurie

Alive, Through, Turned, Early

I don't think of myself as funny. I think of myself as rather grave, actually. And I'm suspicious of fun. I never quite know what that is or how to deal with it or how to generate it. That's my fault. I know it's a burden on the people I'm with. It's tiresome.

- Hugh Laurie

Deal, I Think, Rather, Generate

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to simply walk down the street. In New York, I dashed in to buy a big pair of sunglasses to conceal myself, but the guy behind the counter shouted 'Hey! It's Dr. House.'

- Hugh Laurie

Big, Behind, Increasingly, Dashed

When the ship goes down, the waves very quickly roll over the top of it, and attention shifts elsewhere. It's just the natural order of things in TV - in life - and is as it should be.

- Hugh Laurie

Waves, Over, Very, Shifts

I really do believe the camera steals the soul. But that may be because I'm worried about my soul. I don't have much of a soul to begin with; I can't afford to lose much.

- Hugh Laurie

Soul, Lose, May, Worried

The financing of all TV shows is dictated by finding an audience between 18 and 49. I have now passed beyond 49, so probably, I am no longer a desirable commodity for TV. And I am at peace with that; that's fine.

- Hugh Laurie

TV, Commodity, Desirable, Financing

I'm reasonably easygoing. Messing up my lines or making a fool of myself is where you find my fears. Like a lot of English people, I'm prey to embarrassment - the dread that everyone's sort of sniggering at you, that you're going to look like an idiot. I think that sort of halts us all.

- Hugh Laurie

Prey, I Think, Messing, Reasonably

One of the principal goals in my life has been to avoid embarrassing my children by doing the job I do. I hope I've managed to do that, and I hope that, with the job I'm in now, they are, if not proud, at least unembarrassed by it. I must say, my three are most agreeable children, who do nothing but delight me.

- Hugh Laurie

My Life, Doing, Been, Delight

I run six-to-eight miles a day, plus weights and aerobics in the lunch hour. I also lie a lot, which keeps me thin.

- Hugh Laurie

Lunch, Lie, Which, Weights

Ideas are 10 a penny. It's the execution that's the hard thing to do. House is standing up against a tide of sentiment and emotionalism over reason that threatens to engulf this world. When you think about it, a rationalist, a man of science and reason, is in a pretty lonely position.

- Hugh Laurie

Tide, Reason, Sentiment, Threatens

I personally believe that the iPod is a frankly corrosive device because it encourages you to surround yourself with your favorites. The whole idea of a playlist is to surround yourself with your favorite things, and the interesting thing is that when you do that, they cease to be your favorites.

- Hugh Laurie

Idea, Favorites, Whole, Favorite Things

L.A. runs on optimism, enthusiasm and flattery. I think you can go a little bit crazy. I've heard people say there's a limit to the number of years you can stay in this city without going slightly mad. It's just too damn sunny in every dimension - weather-wise, socially and professionally.

- Hugh Laurie

Optimism, I Think, Slightly, Runs

Celebrity is absolutely preposterous. Entertainment seems to be inflating. It used to be the punctuation to your life, a film or a novel or a play, a way of celebrating a good week or month. Now it feels as if it's all punctuation.

- Hugh Laurie

Play, Celebrity, Feels, Celebrating

It alarms me to think of all that I have read and how little of it has stayed with me.

- Hugh Laurie

Think, How, Read, Alarm

I didn't realize House would be the central character, more the bitter comic relief appearing occasionally. I relish his wounded nature - the lameness, the scarred Byronic hero.

- Hugh Laurie

Nature, More, Wounded, Relief

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