Jason Robards Quotes

Powerful Jason Robards for Daily Growth

About Jason Robards

Jason Robards (December 11, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an acclaimed American actor known for his versatile performances in theater, film, and television. Born into a theatrical family, Robards was the son of stage and screen actress Laurence Robards and grandson of prominent Shakespearean actor Edward Robins. Robards' early life was marked by struggles, including a difficult relationship with his father, who disapproved of his son's acting ambitions. After serving in World War II, Robards returned to New York City and made his Broadway debut in 1946. However, it wasn't until the mid-1950s, after a stint in Hollywood, that he gained critical acclaim for his role in the play "Long Day's Journey into Night" by Eugene O'Neill. Throughout his career, Robards was particularly drawn to roles that explored complex human emotions and psychological depth, such as his portrayal of Benjamin Franklin in 1776 (1972), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His other notable film performances include roles in All the President's Men (1976), Julia (1977), and Megan Leavey (2017). Robards also made significant contributions to television, earning four Emmy Awards throughout his career. Notably, he portrayed President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the acclaimed 1983 miniseries Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. Despite personal struggles with alcoholism and mental health issues, Robards remained a highly respected figure in American acting until his death on December 26, 2000. His legacy continues to inspire generations of actors through his raw, emotional performances and dedication to the craft of acting.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The older I get, the more I realize that life is a series of surprises, many of them pleasant."

This quote by Jason Robards suggests that as one grows older, they come to understand that life is an unexpected journey filled with a mix of challenges and joys. The implication is that aging allows for a deeper appreciation of the positive moments that life brings, rather than focusing solely on the predictable or planned aspects. In other words, the wisdom that comes with age teaches us to embrace the unpredictability and serendipity of life and find pleasure in its surprises.


"Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there."

This quote by Jason Robards implies that acting is about recognizing and portraying shared human experiences, despite superficial differences in characters. Actors don't aim to transform into entirely new individuals, but rather to uncover the commonalities between themselves and their characters, thus allowing them to authentically represent those roles. In essence, Robards suggests that every character, no matter how dissimilar, contains elements relatable to the actor, enabling a genuine portrayal of the character on stage or screen.


"There's nothing like a good crisis to clarify your thinking and make you get on with things."

This quote suggests that during challenging or difficult times, also known as crises, our thinking becomes clearer, enabling us to focus and take action more effectively. The pressure of a crisis often forces us to prioritize tasks, make decisive decisions, and eliminate distractions, leading to increased productivity and progress. In essence, the quote highlights that adversity can serve as a catalyst for clarity and purposeful action.


"I don't think that you can truly understand your own character until you play someone completely different from yourself."

This quote suggests that the act of playing a character significantly distinct from oneself, in the context of acting, provides an individual with unique insights into their own personality. By stepping into unfamiliar roles, one can gain a deeper understanding of their own character traits, motivations, and emotional range, as they are forced to navigate complex situations, perspectives, and reactions that might be outside their everyday experiences. Essentially, the process of embodying another person offers a mirror reflecting hidden aspects of oneself, fostering self-awareness and personal growth.


"The most important thing about acting is honesty."

Jason Robards' quote, "The most important thing about acting is honesty," emphasizes that the cornerstone of any compelling performance lies in authenticity. He suggests that actors should aim to portray characters truthfully, without artifice or pretense, to create a connection with the audience and bring the role to life. This philosophy encourages artists to draw upon their own experiences and emotions to breathe genuine humanity into their characters, thereby fostering a deeper emotional resonance in both performance and reception.


I had a choice whether to live or die, and I chose to live.

- Jason Robards

Die, Had, Whether, Chose

'Iceman' covers a bigger scope than 'Long Day's Journey.' But they're both fabulous pieces of work. 'Iceman' is like a symphony. It's got all the movements, all these different voices. 'Long Day's Journey' is more like a beautiful string quartet.

- Jason Robards

String, Got, Movements, String Quartet

Once you're on, nobody can say, 'Cut it.' You're out there on your own, and there's always that thrill of a real live audience.

- Jason Robards

Audience, Always, Cut, Live Audience

I did a lot of violent junk just because I needed the money - alimony movies, you might call them - and then I decided to start turning down the junk scripts and wait for something better, no matter how long.

- Jason Robards

Wait, Needed, Violent, Scripts

I was a radioman first class in the Navy. I put in seven years. I was around a lot of admirals; I served on destroyers, cruisers, and a flat top for a little while.

- Jason Robards

Navy, Seven, While, First Class

I sort of go with the flow of what's happening on the set.

- Jason Robards

Go, Happening, Set, Flow

When I was little, my father was one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Suddenly - and how it happened to him was always a great mystery to me - he wasn't a star anymore; he was on the fringe. From the time I was 14, I was always conscious of a sense of worry, of terrific insecurity - agents, phony talk, the waits for the phone to ring.

- Jason Robards

Father, Ring, Hollywood, Agents

Projection of sound gives the stage a life different from real life. As actors and interpretive artists, we must not only be able to know the attitude of the script, we must also make ourselves heard - without amplification.

- Jason Robards

Real, Sound, Also, Amplification

I got hooked on 'All Things Considered.'

- Jason Robards

Things, Hooked, Considered, All Things

I don't want actors reasoning with me about 'motivation' and all that bull.

- Jason Robards

Motivation, Want, Reasoning, Bull

To be true to a play, you can't add something that takes away from the author's intent.

- Jason Robards

Play, Away, Add, Intent

Any actor worth his salt is looking for truth, the core of truth of the particular situation he is portraying, of that play. The playwright, the actors and the audience, that's what we're all there seeking. When it's working, time is destroyed. Sometimes 'Moon,' a play of four hours, would go by in a snap of the fingers.

- Jason Robards

Play, Sometimes, Portraying, Playwright

I go to the theater and dream. You learn your lines, and that gives you the security to allow the imagination and heart to come out.

- Jason Robards

Learn, Go, Allow, Lines

That's what interests me about film: directing.

- Jason Robards

Me, Film, About, Directing

I used to just do movies for alimony purposes, between plays.

- Jason Robards

Movies, Alimony, Plays, Purposes

I have six children, and we neglect our older ones more. Because we were so busy trying to make a living, we just say hello and goodbye... I'm sure those things stick with you.

- Jason Robards

Children, Goodbye, Our, Hello

As a baseball player, you know the commodity you're selling, but with acting, you wonder, 'What the hell am I doing that is so hot?'

- Jason Robards

Doing, Commodity, Am, Wonder

We grow each day or don't grow. Go the other way. We're a different person all the time. The human being is something happening differently every day. That's the challenge of doing a play: using your instrument to learn and to pull out these things.

- Jason Robards

Play, Doing, Other, Different Person

An actor doesn't change thought, theme, or mood unless the character does, and the character only does it within the words of the play.

- Jason Robards

Thought, Play, Mood, Theme

Eugene O'Neil is always exploring our want to love but can't get it out there.

- Jason Robards

Love, Exploring, Always, To Love

My father has the most tremendous personality and wonderful looks - he looks like Fredric March.

- Jason Robards

Personality, Looks, Most, March

It's 90 percent rejection, being an actor.

- Jason Robards

Percent, Actor, Being, Rejection

I almost failed one drama course. All the actors talked in phony accents. It shocked me. I went out for track instead.

- Jason Robards

Failed, Almost, Instead, Accents

It's part of an actor's equipment to project a voice.

- Jason Robards

Voice, Actor, Part, Equipment

When you act, you take on the attitudes and the emotions of others. There has to be a release. Most often done in conviviality. That's why there are clubs like the Players, the Friars - in London, the Garrick.

- Jason Robards

London, Emotions, Like, Clubs

I always wanted to act. To be with my friends. To share something with the audience about the human condition.

- Jason Robards

Audience, Always, About, Human Condition

All I know about acting is that I just have to keep on doing it.

- Jason Robards

Doing, Keep, About, Acting

It was 1939. There was no money or jobs around. I did my parents a favor and joined the Navy.

- Jason Robards

Money, Navy, Joined, Favor

I finally realize that I have earned my happiness and what little success I have. And I'm not guilty about it any more. It just happened one day. It just came out.

- Jason Robards

More, One Day, Finally, Not Guilty

I've played all kinds of TV roles, from cowboys to fathers of teenagers. It's helped me a lot. Of course, I was very lucky to have had good directors.

- Jason Robards

Lucky, Very, TV, Teenagers

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