Laurence Fishburne Quotes

Powerful Laurence Fishburne for Daily Growth

About Laurence Fishburne

LaVan Davis Fishburne, professionally known as Laurence Fishburne, was born on July 30, 1961, in Augusta, Georgia. Raised by a single mother, Fishburne developed a deep connection with his maternal grandmother, Hattie, who nurtured his love for storytelling. At the age of 10, Fishburne moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he discovered his passion for acting at the Lafayette High School Drama Club. After high school, he attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), but eventually dropped out to pursue an acting career. Fishburne made his film debut in 'Cornbread, Earl and Me' in 1978. However, it was his role as Gator Purify in 'Apocalypse Now' that brought him attention. His breakout role came in the iconic science fiction film, 'The Matrix,' where he played Morpheus, a role that cemented his status as a Hollywood star. In addition to his film work, Fishburne has made significant contributions to television. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Dr. Alonzo Hugh 'Fitz' Fitzgerald in the medical drama 'House.' For his performance, he won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Fishburne has also shown his dedication to theater, particularly with August Wilson's plays. In 2013, he made his Broadway debut as Troy Maxson in 'Fences.' For this role, he received a Tony Award nomination. Laurence Fishburne continues to act and produce, demonstrating a versatility that spans genres and mediums. His work reflects a commitment to storytelling that resonates with audiences around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Being a successful actor isn't all about money and fame. It's about the stories you tell."

This quote by Laurence Fishburne suggests that success in acting is not only measured by financial gain or popularity, but more importantly, by the narratives one chooses to share through their performances. In essence, it highlights the importance of storytelling as a core aspect of an actor's career, emphasizing that the roles they take on and the characters they portray form an integral part of their success. This perspective underscores the profound impact stories can have in shaping culture, provoking thought, and fostering empathy among audiences.


"I always thought that if I could get myself out of this neighborhood and get some kind of education, my life would be better."

This quote by Laurence Fishburne encapsulates the aspirational spirit that many individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds hold. It suggests a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of education to provide an escape route from challenging circumstances, improve one's life prospects, and foster personal growth. In essence, it's about using education as a tool for social mobility and self-improvement.


"There's no such thing as normal. Normal is a setting on a washing machine."

This quote by Laurence Fishburne suggests that societal norms or expectations are arbitrary and subjective, like the "normal" setting on a washing machine. He challenges the idea that there is a universal standard for what is considered normal, implying that individual differences and experiences should not be judged or compared against these imposed standards. Instead, each person should be accepted as they are, without being labeled as 'abnormal' or 'different'. In essence, Fishburne encourages empathy and understanding towards the diversity of human nature.


"The only thing that separates you from everyone else is what you're willing to put in your head and heart."

This quote by Laurence Fishburne highlights the importance of personal investment in knowledge and emotions as key distinguishing factors among individuals. It suggests that while everyone has access to the same world, it's the commitment to learning, experiencing, and nurturing ideas, skills, and feelings that sets one person apart from another. This can be interpreted as a call to continuously expand our minds and hearts, fostering growth, empathy, and unique perspectives in ourselves.


"I don't have any regrets about anything that I've done because I feel like it's all part of my journey, you know?"

This quote by Laurence Fishburne implies that he views his past actions, both positive and negative, as integral steps in his personal journey through life. He believes that every experience, good or bad, contributes to shaping him into the person he is today, and thus has no regrets about his choices and path. This perspective underscores the idea that growth and self-discovery often stem from life's challenges and lessons learned along the way.


The commercial I did for Kia was hilarious and unexpected, so that, I think, is also another way of signaling to the audience that there's more to me than Morpheus.

- Laurence Fishburne

Think, Audience, Commercial, Hilarious

As an actor, Coppola trained me. That was my training ground.

- Laurence Fishburne

Me, Actor, Trained, Training Ground

I've been around long enough now and have learned to be flexible enough to know that every movie isn't going to be 'Apocalypse Now,' and every director doesn't have to be Stanley Kubrick.

- Laurence Fishburne

Movie, Been, Learned, None

I'm left-handed: I can think and feel at the same time. My feminine side is very highly developed.

- Laurence Fishburne

Think, Very, Side, Left-Handed

Playing solo with an audience for an hour and 30 minutes without a break means I have to, as the jazz cats say, get into the shed and work on my chops.

- Laurence Fishburne

Audience, Means, Shed, Chops

'The Fugitive Kind,' 'Rope,' 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' - I watched all these as a way of reminding myself that you can do a movie based on a play. You can do a movie that stays in one place for a long stretch.

- Laurence Fishburne

Play, Movie, Based, None

I actually had the opportunity to stand at the lectern in the Supreme Court and face the justices, which was really a powerful thing for me.

- Laurence Fishburne

Opportunity, Had, Which, Justices

Acting and philanthropy are braided together. I've tried to seek out things that speak not just specifically to the community that created me, but that speak in a way that's universal and all of humanity celebrates.

- Laurence Fishburne

Community, Seek, Created, Specifically

I was in a movie with Marlon Brando. Now, I didn't have any scenes with Marlon Brando, but I had scenes with Martin Sheen and was around Dennis Hopper, who was a child actor in the studio system and was enamored of James Dean, as was Martin, and they were all sort of disciples of Brando.

- Laurence Fishburne

Movie, Studio, Dean, Brando

I learned tolerance at a very early age.

- Laurence Fishburne

Very, Very Early Age, Tolerance

I think of myself as being a relatively intelligent man who is open to a lot of different things and I think that questioning our purpose in life and the meaning of existence is something that we all go through at some point.

- Laurence Fishburne

Through, Some, I Think, Meaning Of

Philanthropic work reminds you of everyone's common humanity, and that's really the common denominator for everyone.

- Laurence Fishburne

Common, Common Denominator, Reminds

I think there's going to be many special episodes of 'Blackish.'

- Laurence Fishburne

Think, Special, I Think, Episodes

It's very difficult to set a film in one setting without giving the audience some intensity and some relief.

- Laurence Fishburne

Audience, Some, Very, Relief

When I was ten, I did a play at the Henry Street Settlement Playhouse, Charles Fuller's first play. He went on to write 'A Soldier's Story,' among other things. I realized, 'Oh, I can be anything doing this.'

- Laurence Fishburne

Play, Doing, Other, Settlement

I play characters. I don't think I really have a persona per se. I don't play the same guy every time. I show up, you don't know what I'm gonna do. I like it that way. I've intentionally tried to do it that way. I think that's what's interesting.

- Laurence Fishburne

Play, Show, I Think, Every Time

Obviously, after 'The Matrix,' it was a case of, 'OK, I did that. What's next?' I mean, it's always like that, but more so this time. How do I change it up? How do I keep it interesting for myself?

- Laurence Fishburne

Next, Always, Like, OK

It's a huge blessing to know you've done something that has affected people the way 'The Matrix' has. It's like, there's 'Star Wars,' and then there's 'The Matrix.' It's cool to be a part of that.

- Laurence Fishburne

Star, Like, Star Wars, Blessing

My company, Cinema Gypsy, produced a podcast, 'Bronzeville,' in conjunction with Larenz Tate and his brothers that we're developing into a television show. It deals with a very tight-knit African-American community in Chicago in 1947 and people who run a numbers wheel.

- Laurence Fishburne

Gypsy, Brothers, Very, Conjunction

I love the opportunity to use my full range, and so playing in the comedy 'Black-ish' gives me the opportunity to show my lighter side, and playing in this beautiful, elegant horror story of 'Hannibal,' I get to use my darker and more cerebral side. It's really wonderful.

- Laurence Fishburne

Love, Show, Use, Hannibal

I didn't want to be a big star. I wanted to be a really good actor.

- Laurence Fishburne

Star, Big, Actor, Big Star

I don't necessarily go out and try to do something that's going to be just something that will please the audience. I'm not interested in doing something where I get the most people to come see the movie at the same time and they get the biggest explosion. I'm not interested in that.

- Laurence Fishburne

Doing, Movie, Necessarily, Just Something

'Apocalypse Now' was my craziest experience ever. I was 14 years old, and I'd lied about my age to get the role. I haven't had another film top it.

- Laurence Fishburne

Old, Role, Another, Craziest

I carry a lot of feminine energy as well as masculine energy, and that's the hit that people are getting. That vulnerable thing is not what we assume with black males. You get it, and then they cease to become scary. They become human. You cease to have a bogeyman.

- Laurence Fishburne

Feminine, Getting, Lot, Assume

We don't really see a lot of war movies about the people that are left behind, dealing with the deaths of those who serve and the sacrifices they make.

- Laurence Fishburne

Behind, Dealing, Sacrifices, War Movies

It's always a collective group of people coming together to oppose those things which are fundamentally contrary to our basic humanity.

- Laurence Fishburne

People, Always, Which, Group

Hiding a talent is not exclusive to any one particular group of people: young, old, black, white, Latin. It doesn't matter. It's universal. The idea that you have a gift or talent is always kind of threatening.

- Laurence Fishburne

Gift, Young, Always, Group

If you like rock and roll, if you like rhythm and blues, if you like jazz, if you like hip-hop, you might be black-ish.

- Laurence Fishburne

Rock And Roll, Rock, Like, Hip-Hop

It's important for a lot of young black males to value swagger over intelligence. Swagger is important, but intelligence must come before the swagger.

- Laurence Fishburne

Young, Over, Before, Males

You can't be bad when you're working with a kid. They have the instincts that all great actors have.

- Laurence Fishburne

Working, Kid, Bad, Instincts

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