Norman Lloyd Quotes

Powerful Norman Lloyd for Daily Growth

About Norman Lloyd

Norman Lloyd (born Norman Quinton Lindsay Ellis on November 8, 1914) is an American actor, director, and producer who has had a remarkable career spanning nearly a century in the world of cinema and television. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Lloyd's early life was filled with artistic influences; his mother was a singer, and his father a concert violinist. This musical heritage would later influence Lloyd's work in the theater, film, and television industries. Lloyd's acting career began in the late 1930s, where he worked alongside Orson Welles in the Mercury Theatre on the radio adaptation of "War of the Worlds." He would later appear in several films directed by Welles, including "Citizen Kane" and "The Lady from Shanghai." During World War II, Lloyd served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces. Upon his return, he co-founded Actor's Studio with Lee Strasberg, Elia Kazan, and Robert Lewis. The studio became a training ground for many talented actors, including Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Paul Newman. Lloyd's directing career began in the 1950s with television shows such as "Studio One" and "Playhouse 90." His most famous directorial work is perhaps the live television play "Danger: Death Ray!", which aired on CBS in 1960. The innovative production featured a countdown timer, creating tension for the live audience. One of Lloyd's most notable acting roles came in the 1960s when he played the recurring character of Dr. Daniel Auschlander on the hit television series "M*A*S*H." His performance earned him four Emmy Award nominations, with one win in 1978 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Today, at the age of 106, Norman Lloyd remains an active and respected figure in the entertainment industry. His influence on theater, film, and television is immeasurable, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of artists. Some notable quotes by Norman Lloyd include: 1. "Life is short, art long." 2. "One should never feel too good about oneself for fear that one might forget how easy it can be to fall from grace." 3. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is a succession of moments. To live each as fully as possible: that is success."

This quote by Norman Lloyd highlights the importance of living fully in each moment, rather than focusing on broader notions of success such as wealth or status. By embracing life one moment at a time, we maximize our chances of experiencing a fulfilling life overall. It suggests that true success lies in how we live and feel within each fleeting instant, not just in the accumulation of material possessions or achievements over time.


"Fear makes us feel vulnerable and small; love makes us feel big, invincible."

This quote by Norman Lloyd suggests that fear can make individuals feel weak, powerless, and insignificant due to its inherent ability to evoke anxiety and uncertainty. On the contrary, love, with its connotations of affection, care, and connection, empowers us and makes us feel strong, invulnerable, and significant because it fosters a sense of confidence, security, and belonging in our relationships with others. Thus, love is seen as a force that can uplift and empower individuals, while fear can leave them feeling small and vulnerable.


"The best way to avoid regret is to do something you'll never regret doing."

This quote by Norman Lloyd suggests that the key to avoiding regret in life is to make choices that one can be proud of, rather than to fear the possibility of error or remorse. It implies that it's more beneficial to take action on decisions that align with our values and goals, instead of passively waiting for opportunities or dwelling on what might go wrong. Essentially, Lloyd encourages us to seize the day, embrace experiences, and pursue passions without fearing potential regret.


"Life doesn't make any sense without interdependence. We're all connected."

The quote by Norman Lloyd underscores the fundamental unity that binds humanity and life in general. It suggests that each individual, event, and organism has a role to play in the intricate web of existence. In essence, no single entity can thrive in isolation; instead, we depend on one another for survival, growth, and progression. This interconnectedness is not only limited to humans but extends to every aspect of our environment, from flora and fauna to societal structures and global systems. Therefore, understanding this interdependence is crucial to fostering empathy, collaboration, and a more sustainable future.


"I believe that the only completely satisfactory acting comes from a full commitment to the truth of the moment, which means being open and receptive in each instant to the inspiration that is given us by the playwright."

This quote by Norman Lloyd emphasizes the importance of authenticity and emotional honesty in acting. He suggests that the best performances arise from a deep, unwavering commitment to portraying truth within each moment of a scene or script. This requires actors to remain open-minded and receptive, allowing themselves to be guided by the playwright's words and instinctively respond to the situations presented in the story. In essence, Lloyd underscores that great acting stems from a fusion of creative interpretation and emotional vulnerability.


I eat meat, poultry and fish in proper proportion - nothing to excess.

- Norman Lloyd

Fish, Excess, Proportion, Poultry

I loved 'Modern Family!' It was sort of the precursor to 'Trainwreck,' to that character. But I loved it. I had a great time doing it.

- Norman Lloyd

Doing, Great Time, Had, Modern Family

You know I've never worked without a script before, but with Apatow, it's all improvisation. He calls out a premise, and you have to adapt.

- Norman Lloyd

Adapt, Improvisation, Before, Premise

You were taught how to do the things you needed to do. Dance, speech, fencing. They groomed people. If you were in a film, and the script wasn't working for you, they brought in screenwriters and fixed the scripts.

- Norman Lloyd

Film, Needed, Brought, Fixed

Truly great performers reveal not only their characters but bring everything they know about the world with them. It's not just what's in the script but the story of everything you've done and of who you are. If you're Chaplin, you're the immigrant. No matter what he's doing, he's always the little guy trying to make his place in the world.

- Norman Lloyd

Doing, Bring, Reveal, Chaplin

I used to watch Babe Ruth for 50 cents. Now, baseball tickets are $400!

- Norman Lloyd

Ruth, Tickets, Cents, None

The writing was vastly superior to almost anything that was on the air. It's one of the great shows. It was an important show... 'St. Elsewhere' was one of the great shows in the history of television.

- Norman Lloyd

Television, Show, Almost, Vastly

I watch the Dodgers every night - no reading anymore - and I dream that I could have hit that home run.

- Norman Lloyd

Night, Home Run, Could, I Dream

I very much admired Lancaster. George Clooney reminds me of him today. Not all the macho, swinging around that Burt used to do, but the courage. You know where you stand with men like that.

- Norman Lloyd

Him, Used, Very, None

I loved working with Renoir on 'The Southerner.' Oh, I loved it! I particularly loved when he had a scene with a cow going through a garden, and he wanted a little dog to come and bark at it and chase it out.

- Norman Lloyd

Through, Going, Southerner, Garden

We in New York were very poor in the depths of the Depression - but I must say, that was the best time of my life.

- Norman Lloyd

My Life, New, Very, Depths

If you're in the groove, you get something back from the audience that is so exciting and rewarding that no film or television work can possibly compete.

- Norman Lloyd

Audience, Compete, Rewarding, Possibly

There were little Charlie Chaplins that you would wind up, and they would walk. I remember vividly. I was sitting in the high chair with the little tray in front of me. My parents would wind it up, and it would walk to me.

- Norman Lloyd

Remember, Chair, I Remember, Wind

I don't eat shellfish. I drink wine moderately and have one whiskey every evening before dinner.

- Norman Lloyd

Dinner, Before, Moderately, Wine

The Jews are an artistic people. It's clear from the music, the actors, the writers. They are just artists. In the early part of the 20th century, when they first came over, they had no money, but they still went to theater. The theater and education were the two biggest things in their lives.

- Norman Lloyd

Education, Part, Had, 20th Century

There's a conflict between what's in your mind and what's in your body.

- Norman Lloyd

Mind, Your Body, Your, Conflict

I imagine I was supposed to become a lawyer or something. But this was the Depression; the lawyers I saw were all driving cabs. So I thought, 'Well, if I'm going to be badly off anyway, I might as well be badly off in the theater, where you get used to it.'

- Norman Lloyd

Thought, Lawyers, Badly, Lawyer

I'm very fond of Amy Schumer. I think she's terrific, an enormous talent.

- Norman Lloyd

Think, She, Very, Fond

Renoir had a strong feeling about his fellow soldiers. He'd never disrespect them by putting the war down.

- Norman Lloyd

Strong, About, Putting, Disrespect

As far as 'St. Elsewhere' goes, I just loved that show.

- Norman Lloyd

Loved, Goes, Far, As Far As

I move slowly, and I used to move fast. I miss that.

- Norman Lloyd

Fast, Used, Move, Slowly

An actor can grow stale in a bad part. Actors grow stale, generally, because there's no demand on them.

- Norman Lloyd

Grow, Bad, Actor, Stale

I was clearly brought into the whole thing about acting by my mother. She loved the theater. She had a very pleasant singing voice, which she used to sing for her ladies' club.

- Norman Lloyd

Voice, Very, Brought, Ladies

The Depression was remarkable because you had nothing, and the salaries, when you got a job, were very small. But you could do anything. You see, a donut was ten cents. A cup of coffee was a nickel. That was lunch, with an apple. And I would be playing a lead on a Broadway show on that kind of diet.

- Norman Lloyd

Lunch, Small, Very, Nickel

My family were Conservative Jews. My parents were both born in this country, but my father grew up on the Lower East Side, and my mother was born and raised in Harlem when there was a large Jewish 'colony' there. Eventually, they moved to Jersey City to get away from New York.

- Norman Lloyd

Conservative, Country, Away, Jersey

I was playing good tennis up until 100.

- Norman Lloyd

Playing, Up, Until, Tennis

If I go to England, they know I'm not an Englishman, but most Americans think I'm English.

- Norman Lloyd

Think, England, Most, Englishman

Karl Malden! A dear, dear, dear friend. I loved Karl. He was great.

- Norman Lloyd

Loved, Karl, Dear Friend, Dear

Peter Weir is remarkable. He can do anything.

- Norman Lloyd

Anything, Remarkable, He, Peter

Some of the movies I did - well, you have to feed your family.

- Norman Lloyd

Movies, Some, Well, Feed

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.