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Paul Morrissey Quotes

Powerful Paul Morrissey for Daily Growth

About Paul Morrissey

Paul Morrissey (born Paul Bernard Morris on February 18, 1938) is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer, best known for his collaborations with Andy Warhol in the 1960s and '70s. Born in New York City to Jewish parents, Morrissey grew up in a middle-class family and attended Lehigh University before dropping out. His life took an unexpected turn when he met Andy Warhol at a party in 1963, leading him into the vibrant world of New York's underground art scene. In 1966, Morrissey co-directed (with Warhol) the groundbreaking film "Chelsea Girls," a multi-screen exploration of New York City's bohemian elite. The film was a significant departure from traditional cinema and marked the beginning of the 'Warhol Factory' films, which combined avant-garde aesthetics with documentary-like realism. Morrissey's most successful film as a director, "Flesh" (1968), starred Joe Dallesandro, a regular actor in Warhol's films, and marked the transition of Morrissey from Warhol's assistant to a creative force in his own right. The film's raw, gritty portrayal of the gay underworld was a critical and commercial success, earning Morrissey a reputation as a provocative director. In 1972, Morrissey directed "Trash," another collaboration with Warhol and Dallesandro, which was also well-received. However, his later works such as "Blood for Dracula" (1974) and "Heat" (1972), while still notable, failed to recapture the success of his earlier films. Paul Morrissey's impact on cinema is significant, particularly in the realms of avant-garde filmmaking, queer cinema, and the exploration of unconventional themes. His unique style and collaborative spirit have left a lasting legacy in the world of film.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I think that life is the greatest work of art."

This quote by Paul Morrissey emphasizes the inherent beauty and creativity in everyday life, suggesting that our existence itself is a masterpiece. Life, in its myriad forms, expressions, and experiences, presents an ever-evolving artwork, constantly being shaped by us as individuals and collectively as a society. Each moment holds unique, poignant details, much like the brushstrokes on a canvas, that when viewed together, form the grand mural of human experience. In essence, life is a creative journey, inviting us to paint our own masterpiece and appreciate those around us who are doing the same.

"Nothing succeeds like excess."

The quote, "Nothing succeeds like excess" by Paul Morrissey suggests that going above and beyond the norm can lead to success. This statement implies that while moderation is valued in many aspects of life, there's an advantage to pushing boundaries and going beyond what is expected or typical. This may apply in areas such as creativity, ambition, or innovation, where breaking free from limitations can yield exceptional results. However, it should be noted that the concept of 'excess' must be wielded with caution to avoid unnecessary waste, harm, or imbalance.

"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."

This quote by Paul Morrissey emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, purpose, and authenticity in the expression of one's style or identity. In other words, it means understanding oneself deeply enough to express individuality without conforming to societal norms or expectations. It also suggests confidence and courage in standing up for one's own beliefs and values.

"The world has become so safe, it's become incredibly boring."

The quote suggests that as society continues to advance in terms of safety and security, there is a trade-off: a potential loss of excitement or stimulation. In today's increasingly controlled environment, people may experience a diminished sense of adventure, risk-taking, or novelty compared to past eras when challenges were more prevalent. This perception of boredom might stem from the predictability and monotony that can arise from too much safety and order.

"Life imitates art far more than art imitates life."

This quote, attributed to Paul Morrissey, suggests that our experiences, behaviors, and societal constructs often reflect or are influenced by the art we create, rather than the other way around. In essence, it means that the narratives, ideas, and themes presented in art have a significant impact on shaping how we perceive and interact with reality. This idea can be seen in various forms of media where trends, stereotypes, or cultural shifts are reflected back to us through creative expression.

Andy was not a hippie or rebel but more like a mischievous child. He was never out to destroy everything. He became a New Yorker, and New Yorkers know, like the media, what's going on around them is a fashion thing that will change to something else.

- Paul Morrissey

Rebel, Became, New Yorkers, Hippie

Andy was an offbeat personality, shy and insecure. The whole reason for taking a camera with him wherever he went was because he was so shy. He'd break the ice by taking pictures.

- Paul Morrissey

Reason, Shy, Break, Offbeat

The people of Pittsburgh should have a weekend flea market at the Warhol. Andy would have loved that kind of stuff.

- Paul Morrissey

Market, Pittsburgh, Warhol, Flea

I adore jokes. They're a theatrical contrivance, but the irony of all fiction is that you approach reality by avoiding it a bit; you spoof it a bit.

- Paul Morrissey

Irony, Fiction, Theatrical, Spoof

Very few people took sordid things and made comedies out of them.

- Paul Morrissey

Very, Took, Comedies, Sordid

Somewhere in the '60s, actors became wimps and basket-case psychotics.

- Paul Morrissey

Somewhere, Became, Wimps

I love Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton, but not Charlie Chaplin.

- Paul Morrissey

Love, Buster, I Love, Chaplin

Nico was peculiar. She was extraordinary.

- Paul Morrissey

She, Extraordinary, Peculiar

I've been the movie business for over 50 years, and I've done everything imaginable that could be done or ever was done by anybody.

- Paul Morrissey

Movie, Over, Been, Imaginable

Actors should be instinctive and spontaneous. If you think about acting, you're not going to be good.

- Paul Morrissey

Think, Going, Instinctive, Spontaneous

My sense is that you can make a film under almost any circumstances. As long as someone has a vague idea of what he's doing, something distinctive will emerge. That, to me, is what film making is all about.

- Paul Morrissey

Doing, Vague, Almost, Any Circumstances

You can't have the real thing on camera - that's the nature of cinema. When you see people like Daniel Day-Lewis and Ralph Fiennes screaming and hyperventilating, you're seeing the phoniest kind of bad acting. You may as well have a 'men at work' sign. It's not acting if you can see it.

- Paul Morrissey

Bad, See, Sign, Screaming

I've always been an independent producer. I'd kind of like to be hired help for a change. I don't mind that.

- Paul Morrissey

Mind, Always, Been, Hired

You don't put your personal viewpoints in a good movie. A movie should only be concerned with characters, not some big moral, although it's always underneath.

- Paul Morrissey

Big, Some, Always, Underneath

There's something about all the films that I have made in that they don't seem old or dated, and some people mention that.

- Paul Morrissey

Some, Made, Films, Dated

A good conservative is someone with an open mind.

- Paul Morrissey

Mind, Conservative, Someone, Open Mind

Andy was a nonverbal person; you couldn't get directions out of him. All he knew was what was modern in art was what wasn't art: The telephone was art, the pizza was art, but what was hanging on walls in museums wasn't art.

- Paul Morrissey

Art, Knew, Telephone, Directions

Even Andy never hung his own paintings. He'd sell them or put them in a box.

- Paul Morrissey

Never, His, Even, Hung

We are always getting photos and publicity from people who want to act in Andy's movies. We always throw them away. They don't seem to realize that the last thing we'd put into a movie is an actor. Because all the other movies use actors.

- Paul Morrissey

Movie, Other, Away, Publicity

It's a debilitating process, working with the studios. With the length of time it takes for drafts and development deals, your enthusiasm is gone before you're ready to make the film.

- Paul Morrissey

Process, Development, Before, Debilitating

What made Andy famous was the years I managed him. I created the Velvet Underground and told him not to worry about them because they would help his career. All those things I did created his fame.

- Paul Morrissey

Worry, Career, Famous, Velvet

I'm not against censorship in principle. Not at all. Some things should be censored.

- Paul Morrissey

Some, Against, Principle, Censored

Andy wasn't capable of any complicated thoughts or ideas. Ideas need a verb and a noun, a subject. Andy spoke in a kind of stumbling staccato. You had to finish sentences for him. So Andy operated through people who could do things for him. He wished things into happening, things he himself couldn't do.

- Paul Morrissey

Through, Spoke, Subject, Noun

I did say to myself one day, 'I'd love to be a Jewish comedian,' but that's my only memory with any connection to show business.

- Paul Morrissey

Love, Business, Memory, Comedian

I've always stayed independent, but I've always felt an obligation to make movies an untutored audience could like.

- Paul Morrissey

Movies, Audience, Always, Obligation

If I thought about planning, I'd plan movies. If I thought about planning my life, I'd plan my life more rationally, not like New Yorkers who live their lives so irrationally, without reason. Maybe that's the connection between my movies and New York: the movies have the same kind of lack of overall design.

- Paul Morrissey

My Life, Thought, Reason, New Yorkers

I'm not anti-Hollywood; not at all. In fact, I'm rather fascinated by everything that goes on here. When I get hold of a copy of 'Variety,' I read it cover to cover; I love to know what people are doing.

- Paul Morrissey

Love, Doing, Here, Variety

I was brought up with TV comedians. I'll remember them till I go to my grave, all those comedians, as decadent fluff.

- Paul Morrissey

TV, Brought, Till, Decadent

Rome has New York's formlessness, aimlessness, a kind of hard-boiled sophistication, blase about everything. In their filmmaking, too, the Italians have this tongue-in-cheek sense of comedy.

- Paul Morrissey

New, Rome, Italians, Sophistication

People treat serious subjects so seriously, which is so obvious a way of dealing with them. I'm always thinking that the best way of dealing with them is to show people as human beings.

- Paul Morrissey

Always, Best Way, Which, Subjects

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