Jonathan Nolan Quotes

Powerful Jonathan Nolan for Daily Growth

About Jonathan Nolan

Jonathan Nolan, a renowned American screenwriter, producer, and director, was born on November 26, 1976, in Hollywood, California. He is the younger brother of acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan. Growing up in the world of cinema, Jonathan's passion for storytelling was ignited early, influenced by his father, an advertising copywriter and political activist. Jonathan graduated from Harvard University with a degree in English literature before embarking on a career in screenwriting. He co-wrote his first major project, 'Following' (1998), with his brother Christopher, serving as an un-credited assistant director. His breakthrough came with the creation of the hit television series 'Fringe' (2008–2013). In 2010, Jonathan made his directorial debut with the episode 'Pilot' for the acclaimed HBO series 'Westworld'. He has since directed several episodes and co-created the series alongside his brother. The show, a critical and commercial success, earned numerous awards, including multiple Emmy nominations. Jonathan's work extends to the comic book and video game worlds as well. He wrote for DC Comics' 'Detective Comics' in 2013 and co-wrote the video game 'Fullbright Company's Tacoma' (2017). Known for his thought-provoking, intelligent, and complex narratives, Jonathan Nolan continues to make significant contributions to the world of film and television. His works often explore themes of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and free will, reflecting his deep interest in philosophy and technology.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"In a world without mystery, entertainment is the last refuge of wonder."

In Jonathan Nolan's quote, he suggests that as our world becomes more understood and explained, we seek solace in entertainment to maintain a sense of wonder and curiosity. Entertainment serves as an outlet for exploring unknown realms, fostering imagination, and stimulating the mind beyond the boundaries of everyday life. It offers a glimpse into possibilities, enigmas, and narratives that challenge our understanding, keeping us connected with the essence of mystery.


"The most human person who walks among us is the one who can still see the extraordinary in the ordinary."

This quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity, even when faced with everyday occurrences. It suggests that the truly 'human' individual appreciates the extraordinary within the ordinary aspects of life. By recognizing the inherent beauty or significance in seemingly mundane situations, we cultivate empathy, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for our shared experiences. Thus, it underscores the idea that valuing the ordinary as extraordinary makes us more human, fostering emotional intelligence and personal growth.


"A great idea is just a match waiting for a spark."

The quote suggests that every person has the potential to generate innovative ideas, but they remain dormant until given the opportunity or inspiration to come alive, like a match igniting into a flame. In essence, it underscores the importance of cultivating an environment where creativity can flourish and be brought to fruition.


"Science fiction isn't about the future, it's about the present."

Jonathan Nolan's quote suggests that science fiction serves as a reflection of our current societal concerns, aspirations, fears, and values. Instead of depicting the future in a literal sense, science fiction stories often use fictional settings to explore contemporary issues and challenges faced by humanity. By examining these narratives, we can gain insights into our present culture, technology, politics, and social dynamics, ultimately helping us better understand ourselves and the world we live in today.


"The most dangerous word in the human language may be 'Because.' It kills discussion and debate."

The quote emphasizes that the word "because" can prematurely end discussions or debates, as it often implies an unquestionable justification for a statement or action. By using "because," one might close off further questioning, exploration of alternative perspectives, or critical thinking. Instead, encouraging curiosity and open-mindedness by asking questions, seeking understanding, and fostering dialogue can lead to more meaningful and enriching conversations.


People are fascinated, for whatever reason, by human drama, and the idea that cameras are capturing ambient stories.

- Jonathan Nolan

Reason, Drama, Cameras, Capturing

It's always gratifying to hear that people are excited by something that you've been excited to make.

- Jonathan Nolan

Excited, Always, Been, Gratifying

I often want to go to the movies and see something that transports you beyond the infinite.

- Jonathan Nolan

Movies, See, Infinite, Transports

I'm not affiliated with either Wikileaks or Anonymous - of course, it's not like I would tell you anyway if I were because the whole point is to be anonymous.

- Jonathan Nolan

Tell, Like, Affiliated, Anonymous

I believe we should be good custodians of the Earth.

- Jonathan Nolan

Believe, Earth, Should, Custodian

'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' ends with the spaceship lands and Richard Dreyfuss' character best on, but a bunch of pilots and sailors from the 1940s get off. You kind of wanted to know what happened next.

- Jonathan Nolan

Next, Pilots, Richard, Sailors

I'm a big fan of the Mass Effect games, and that's all about social manipulation and observing people and alliances and relationships.

- Jonathan Nolan

Big, Social, Mass, Observing

Wormholes don't exist because the only way they would exist is if they were seeded with exotic material created by an intelligence far beyond our own. Something would have to make one.

- Jonathan Nolan

Beyond, Own, Created, Exotic

We have been crafted by disaster to push out to the utmost horizon to find out what's on the other side of it. That's in our nature. What's also in our nature is a profound love and connection to our children and our communities. Those two things are very much at conflict with one another at certain moments.

- Jonathan Nolan

Love, Been, Very, Communities

I'd grown up in the U.K., where the surveillance apparatus went into place in the 1970s in response to the Troubles with the IRA. When I was a kid, we moved to Chicago, and I was surprised to see you could live in a large city in which you didn't have cameras on every street corner.

- Jonathan Nolan

City, Kid, Apparatus, Surveillance

I've always loved shows that combine both approaches - that have a mythology and a set of characters, whose stories develop and change, and where the relationships evolve and fracture.

- Jonathan Nolan

Always, Stories, Set, Combine

I'm a big, big, big techno dork.

- Jonathan Nolan

Big, Techno, Dork

Wormholes are a gravitational phenomena. Or imaginary gravitational phenomena, as the case may be.

- Jonathan Nolan

May, Imaginary, Phenomena, Gravitational

In terms of long-term durable storage, the human mind, paradoxically, is pretty good, but it's very fragile.

- Jonathan Nolan

Mind, Pretty, Very, Human Mind

I consider my job as a screenwriter to pack a script with possibilities and ideas - to create a feast for the filmmaker to pick from.

- Jonathan Nolan

Ideas, Pack, Screenwriter, Filmmaker

Look at anyone's bookcase at home, no matter how modest, and you're going to find a book that contains wisdom or ideas or a language that's at least a thousand years old. And the idea that humans have created a mechanism to time travel, to hurl ideas into the future, it sort of bookends. Books are a time machine.

- Jonathan Nolan

Book, Idea, Least, Mechanism

One of the things I love about working with my brother is that there's a commitment there - an unwavering commitment. From our basement in Illinois when I was three years old to Iceland on a frozen glacier with Matthew McConaughey and Matt Damon in spacesuits - there's a commitment to the pure spectacle, the pure cinema of it.

- Jonathan Nolan

Love, Basement, Unwavering, Matt

To me, Joss Whedon is a god. I'm just a huge fan of his work; I love his work on TV.

- Jonathan Nolan

Love, Work, TV, Huge Fan

I don't like things I work on to have political didacticism - there are questions, but not messages.

- Jonathan Nolan

Work, Like, Things, Messages

I was a big Batman fan when I was a kid.

- Jonathan Nolan

Kid, Big, Fan, Batman

My earliest memories are making little Super 8 films - or watching my brother make stop-motion space spectaculars.

- Jonathan Nolan

Making, Films, Earliest, Memories

I'm not a big believer in doing too much research - I think you can get lost in it. You can get constrained by it, which I think is a mistake. But if you've done your homework, the audience feels it.

- Jonathan Nolan

Mistake, Big, Which, Believer

I'm not a big fan of visual effects.

- Jonathan Nolan

Big, Fan, Effects, Big Fan

I love crime procedurals. I always have. I love cop shows.

- Jonathan Nolan

Love, Always, I Love, Crime

I'm a big gamer. I know the lead time and how long it takes to develop a game and how hard it is to get it right.

- Jonathan Nolan

Game, Big, Develop, Gamer

When you're doing a film called 'Interstellar,' at some point - the idea was to be grounded in the science as much as possible - but with a name like 'Interstellar,' you had better go somewhere big and bold.

- Jonathan Nolan

Doing, Big, Some, Bold

I'm fascinated by artificial intelligence.

- Jonathan Nolan

Intelligence, Fascinated, Artificial

I grew up watching 'Magnum, P.I.' and shows like that, where you could develop a character over eight seasons, with stories along the way.

- Jonathan Nolan

Seasons, Over, Stories, Eight

Some things work better as a book, some things work better as a story, some things works better as a film.

- Jonathan Nolan

Better, Some, Works, Some Things

When you have a smartphone, the things that it can do are kind of ridiculous and terrifying.

- Jonathan Nolan

Kind, Things, Terrifying, Ridiculous

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