Kirk Douglas Quotes

Powerful Kirk Douglas for Daily Growth

About Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas (December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor, producer, and philanthropist whose six-decade career made him a cultural icon. Born Issur Danielovitch to Jewish immigrant parents in Amsterdam, New York, he grew up during the Great Depression and developed a passion for acting as a means of escaping his impoverished circumstances. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, Douglas enrolled at Saint Lawrence University on the GI Bill. He later transferred to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. His big break came with the 1946 film 'Champion,' earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Known for his chiseled jawline and intense screen presence, Douglas became a household name in the 1950s and 1960s, starring in classic films such as 'Spartacus' (1960), 'Paths of Glory' (1957), and '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' (1954). He was one of the few actors to found a production company during Hollywood's golden age, Bryna Productions, which produced films like 'Lust for Life' (1956) and 'The Vikings' (1958). Douglas was also known for his social activism. He used his fame to support causes close to his heart, including civil rights, education, and the Israel Defense Forces. In 1970, he founded The Douglas Foundation, a private family foundation that continues to support various charitable organizations today. Despite suffering a serious helicopter crash in 1991 that left him with temporary speech impairment, Douglas continued acting. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1986 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015, recognizing his contributions to the arts and philanthropy. Kirk Douglas passed away peacefully at the age of 103, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire actors and humanitarians alike.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I believe in myself."

The quote by Kirk Douglas, "I believe in myself," is a powerful statement that encapsulates confidence, self-assurance, and personal conviction. It indicates that the individual trusts their abilities, skills, and judgment, and is willing to take ownership of their actions and decisions, regardless of external factors or opinions. This mindset can lead to resilience, determination, and the pursuit of one's goals with unwavering confidence.


"The harder you work for something, the harder it is to let it go."

This quote highlights the deep emotional attachment one can develop towards something they've worked hard to achieve or maintain. It suggests that the effort, persistence, and dedication invested in a goal or endeavor creates an intimate bond between the individual and their achievement, making it difficult to relinquish when faced with adversity, change, or loss. The underlying message is that pursuing goals diligently not only instills resilience but also cultivates a strong sense of attachment and responsibility towards them.


"It's not a question of age. It's a question of whether or not you have the will to do it."

The quote emphasizes that one's age is not a determining factor in accomplishing goals; instead, it's about having the determination, drive, and willpower to pursue those objectives. In other words, age doesn't dictate abilities or potential, but rather personal motivation does. This thought encourages individuals of all ages to believe in their capacity to make progress and achieve success in their endeavors.


"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."

This quote by Kirk Douglas suggests that life should not be approached as a series of challenges to be overcome, but rather as an opportunity for experience and growth. It encourages the reader to embrace each moment, accept its joys, sorrows, surprises, and challenges, because the essence of living is the journey itself, not just finding solutions to obstacles. It's about immersing oneself in life, learning from it, and growing as an individual.


"Success is usually the culmination of controlling failure."

This quote by Kirk Douglas emphasizes that success isn't merely a series of triumphs, but rather the end result of learning from and managing failures along the way. In other words, it suggests that true success comes from recognizing, coping with, and ultimately overcoming obstacles and setbacks - experiences that are essential for growth and development. It's a reminder that failure is an inherent part of progress, and mastering our responses to adversity is crucial in shaping our ultimate achievements.


Love has more depth as you get older.

- Kirk Douglas

Love, More, Get, Depth

No matter how bad things are, they can always be worse. So what if my stroke left me with a speech impediment? Moses had one, and he did all right.

- Kirk Douglas

Bad, Always, Impediment, Moses

Fear is a terrible thing. It makes you do awful things.

- Kirk Douglas

Things, Makes, Awful, Terrible Thing

I didn't think I was so tough until I did 'Champion'; then I was a tough guy.

- Kirk Douglas

Think, Tough Guy, Until, Champion

You know, sometimes an interviewer will look at me and say - you're bright! They're actually surprised I might be bright.

- Kirk Douglas

Sometimes, Will, Might, Interviewer

Sometimes an interviewer will look at me and say, 'You're bright!' They're actually surprised I might be bright.

- Kirk Douglas

Sometimes, Will, Might, Interviewer

Cancer does give you a new rejuvenation. I know what it's like to be down. I lost a couple of good friends - Larry Hagman and Nick Ashford - who had the same type of cancer that I did, and that makes you think.

- Kirk Douglas

Couple, Had, Type, Good Friends

If I thought a man had never committed a sin in his life, I don't think I'd want to talk with him. A man with flaws is more interesting.

- Kirk Douglas

Thought, Think, Committed, Flaws

When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood, and I've discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think I'm going to say something important!

- Kirk Douglas

Think, Going, Discovered, Understood

Fifteen years ago, I suffered a stroke, which caused me to lose my speech. Now, what does an actor who can't talk do? Wait for silent pictures to come back? I work with a speech therapist twice a week.

- Kirk Douglas

Week, Wait, Back, Twice A Week

I was living in a terrible time when people were being accused of being communists, and they attacked the movie industry, especially the writers. People couldn't work if they were on the blacklist. The studios banned them. It was the most onerous period in movie history. I don't think we have ever had a period so dark as that.

- Kirk Douglas

Movie, Industry, Had, Communists

I came from abject poverty. There was nowhere to go but up.

- Kirk Douglas

Go, Nowhere, Came, Abject

All my life, I have taken inventory at intervals. For example, when I became a movie actor and suddenly I had to deal with fame, money and playing so many roles, I lost myself. I said, 'Who am I?' And I wrote my first book to deal with that, 'The Ragman's Son.'

- Kirk Douglas

My Life, Deal, Became, Who Am I

I love talking to interesting people - people like O.J. Simpson, Andretti... I love champions. A champion has something special about him.

- Kirk Douglas

Love, Champions, Like, Something Special

God bless Dad, he came to every one of my shows. I was bad, and I had horrible stage fright. My dad was so relieved - he'd say, 'You were terrible; this kid is not going to be an actor.' Finally, I did a play and he said, 'Son - you were really good.'

- Kirk Douglas

Play, Bad, Stage Fright, Fright

Too often, I have not been what I wanted to be; I've succumbed to pressures. Yes, I have. The things I've done that I liked, I've always done against advice.

- Kirk Douglas

Always, Been, Succumbed, Pressures

What would my parents think about America if they arrived here today? Would they even want to come? I wonder.

- Kirk Douglas

Think, Want, Here, I Wonder

People are always talking about the old days. They say that the old movies were better, that the old actors were so great. But I don't think so. All I can say about the old days is that they have passed.

- Kirk Douglas

Think, Old, Always, Old Movies

Acting is make-believe. I never believe I'm the character; I want you to believe.

- Kirk Douglas

Character, Never, Want, I Want You

I'm an actor; I have made my living by acting, and I almost think I owe it to the public to express my feelings and not as a character on a screen but as myself.

- Kirk Douglas

Think, Living, Almost, Feelings

Being second generation in Hollywood is complicated: Success is expected, and yet the track record of the second generation is not great. Only a small group of us, like Jane Fonda, have succeeded.

- Kirk Douglas

Generation, Small, Hollywood, Group

Acting is a youthful profession.

- Kirk Douglas

Acting, Profession, Youthful

In order to achieve anything you must be brave enough to fail.

- Kirk Douglas

Achieve, Fail, Must, Order

My mother, we were a very poor family. When I was a kid, we would be in our little room, and there would be a knock on the door almost every night with a hobo begging for food. Even though we didn't even have enough to eat, my mother always found something to give them.

- Kirk Douglas

Door, Knock, Very, Every Night

Virtue is not photogenic, so I liked playing bad guys. But, whenever I played a bad guy, I tried to find something good in him, and that kept my contact with the audience.

- Kirk Douglas

Audience, Bad, Bad Guy, Something Good

Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to be a nice guy? To be nothing, that's what. A big fat zero with a smile for everybody.

- Kirk Douglas

Big, Zero, Everybody, Nice Guy

When I first came to Hollywood, the blacklist was just starting, and they were having hearings in Washington. What most people don't know is the judge of these hearings himself was later convicted of misappropriation. 'Spartacus' helped break the blacklist, because Spartacus was a real character.

- Kirk Douglas

Character, Hollywood, Later, Starting

Listen - pacemaker, crash, stroke. What does it mean? God doesn't want me now. That's all.

- Kirk Douglas

Listen, Want, Pacemaker, Stroke

I didn't start out to be a movie star. I started out to be an actor.

- Kirk Douglas

Star, Actor, Movie, Movie Star

My first job was on Broadway. Then I went into the Navy. When I came out of the Navy, I went back to Broadway and a friend of mine, Lauren Bacall, was in Hollywood filming with Humphrey Bogart. She told one of her producers I was great in my play, and he saw it and cast me in 'The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'.

- Kirk Douglas

Love, Play, Hollywood, First Job

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