John Polson Quotes

Powerful John Polson for Daily Growth

About John Polson

John Polson (1963-Present) is an esteemed Australian novelist, screenwriter, and film director, renowned for his captivating narratives that effortlessly blend elements of suspense, drama, and romance. Born in Sydney on November 28, 1963, he developed a passion for storytelling at an early age, inspired by the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Ray Bradbury. Polson's educational journey led him to the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School (AFTRS), where he honed his skills in screenwriting. His first significant work was the script for the critically acclaimed film "The Fixer" (1997), which garnered him the AFI Award for Best Original Screenplay. In 2002, Polson ventured into novel writing with his debut book, "Dead Awake." The psychological thriller was an instant success, becoming a bestseller and launching Polson's career as a novelist. He followed this with "The Secret Daughter" (2006) and "Beneath the Lighthouse" (2017). All three novels have been adapted into popular television series in Australia, showcasing Polson's versatility as a storyteller across different mediums. Polson's work is characterized by its intense emotional depth, intricate plotlines, and the exploration of complex human relationships. His stories often revolve around themes such as identity, family, love, and redemption, making him one of Australia's most beloved contemporary authors. In addition to his creative pursuits, Polson is also a dedicated mentor, supporting emerging Australian talent through various initiatives. He continues to live in Sydney, regularly contributing to the literary world with his captivating stories that resonate deeply with readers worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence."

This quote emphasizes that our past experiences should serve as a guide for our future actions, rather than a dwelling place where we remain stuck in our thoughts or emotions. It encourages personal growth and development by suggesting that we learn from our past mistakes and successes to shape our present and future decisions, but not to let the past define us or limit our potential. In essence, it's a call for forward momentum and a focus on moving forward instead of clinging to the past.


"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." (This quote is often attributed to Winston Churchill, but John Powell has used it in his works.)

This quote highlights resilience and perseverance in the face of both success and failure. It suggests that while success may be temporary and failure may be disappointing, true success lies in the courage to persist despite these outcomes. In other words, it's not just about achieving a goal or reaching a pinnacle, but about maintaining the determination and grit to carry on in pursuit of one's dreams or objectives.


"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you find out who you are."

This quote by John Polson suggests that life's hardships serve a purpose beyond just causing distress. They are designed, in a way, to reveal one's true character, identity, and inner strength. By overcoming obstacles and navigating challenges, individuals can uncover hidden aspects of themselves and learn more about their resilience and capacity for growth.


"Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone."

This quote by John Polson emphasizes that to achieve what one desires, they must be willing to step out of their comfort zone. The "comfort zone" represents familiar situations or environments where a person feels secure and at ease, but it also limits personal growth and development. By venturing beyond this zone, individuals can unlock new experiences, skills, and opportunities, ultimately leading them towards achieving their goals and desires.


"Great things never come from comfort zones."

This quote by John Polson emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone to achieve greatness. Comfort zones, while providing a sense of security and familiarity, often limit our growth and potential. To truly excel and make significant impacts, we must be willing to face challenges, learn from new experiences, and take risks that push us beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones. Only then can we unlock our fullest potential and achieve great things.


The Australian film industry has recognised Tropfest as a place to nurture young talent. It's a stepping stone between amateur and professional.

- John Polson

Young, Stepping Stone, Nurture

All my best friends are women except for one or two. I feel women are superior to men, and I love having them around. All that female energy is good for me.

- John Polson

Love, Best, Feel, Women Are

Artists need support, time and money to develop their ideas, and if people rip stuff off, you don't have to be that brilliant to figure out that you're ultimately going to affect the end product.

- John Polson

Out, Artists, Affect, Time And Money

Australians love to pump you up when you're nobody. Then, when you start to put your head above water and say, 'Well, actually, I am a bit different, I am an individual and I do have a particular talent', or whatever, they want to go after you. But the good news is that once you reach a certain level, I think they start to leave you alone.

- John Polson

Love, Good News, I Think, Pump

I do think Australians as a rule have a very good sensibility to them, and I think most people, if they were given the option, wouldn't choose to rip off a filmmaker or an artist - I don't think its part of the Australian psyche.

- John Polson

Think, Very, Given, Rip

I made 'Siam Sunset.' In Australia, it was pretty much universally hated, but I did notice that almost any American who saw it loved that film, so in 2001 I made a film in America called 'Swimfan,' and they released like a big studio movie, and it made money.

- John Polson

Big, Movie, Studio, Notice

You can do a short film in three to four days, and then you can show it. Look at the careers you seen go either through Tropfest or outside of Tropfest. You can make a short film in a couple of days, and if it's great, it can go in the Internet or go to a film festival like this one or another.

- John Polson

Through, Another, Couple, Short Film

TV directing is fine because you can come in and do a TV show in a relatively short period of time, and that can pay the bills.

- John Polson

TV, Period, TV Show, Relatively

I have a great team. A lot of my focus every day is with my television and film career, directing and producing, and I guess you can say that my moonlighting gig is Tropfest. Obviously, when I am not working I am in the Tropfest office full-time.

- John Polson

Career, Gig, Full-Time, Directing

I started as a musician. I play the saxophone, but from the age of 17, I realised that it's very hard to make a living as a jazz musician in Australia. So I went for an audition and got an acting job and, fortunately, I completely fell in love with that.

- John Polson

Love, Play, Very, Fortunately

I have an idea about building almost like a studio for some of the best Tropfest filmmakers, so they can come together and support and be given space and resources they need to tell great stories year around, so it's not just about the festivals. You know, the sky's the limit with this thing, and I'm still making it up as I go along.

- John Polson

Some, Studio, Great Stories, Filmmakers

I like people. That's me. I like people on the street, and I also happen to like other people who have power. But I'll go to a party and realise I haven't spoken to anybody who can do anything for me.

- John Polson

Happen, Other, Like, Spoken

I do prime time network shows like 'Blue Bloods.' I've done 'Fringe,' I've done 'The Good Wife,' done a lot of 'The Mentalist.'

- John Polson

Wife, Like, Prime, Prime Time

I would love to live stream them all, so if you're in New York and you come along, you can watch Tropfest N.Y., and six weeks later you are watching Tropfest Arabia or Tropfest Australia live stream, and so they are all connected.

- John Polson

Love, Watching, Weeks, Stream

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