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Richard Attenborough Quotes

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About Richard Attenborough

Richard Attenborough, born on August 29, 1923, in Cambridge, England, was a prolific actor, film director, and producer who left an indelible mark on the global film industry. Known for his inspiring humanitarian efforts and significant contributions to cinema, Attenborough began his career as an actor in theater before transitioning to television and film. Influenced by the works of Charlie Chaplin and David Lean, Attenborough made his film debut in 1948 in "The Wicked Lady." However, it was his role as Officer Johnston in the 1951 classic "The African Queen," directed by John Huston and starring Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, that propelled him into the spotlight. Attenborough's directing debut came with the biographical film "Oh! What a Lovely War" in 1969, followed by "Young Winston" (1972), a highly acclaimed dramatization of Winston Churchill's life. However, it was his direction of the epic drama "Gandhi" (1982) that earned him global recognition. The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Director for Attenborough. A notable actor in his own right, Attenborough delivered memorable performances in films such as "Jurassic Park" (1993), where he played the eccentric billionaire John Hammond, and "Miracle on 34th Street" (1994), a remake of the classic Christmas tale. Throughout his career, Attenborough was committed to social causes. He served as the President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1976 and knighted in 1977. Richard Attenborough passed away on August 24, 2014, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike. His quote, "In the end, the movie business is fun, not life or death," encapsulates his spirit and love for cinema.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"To realize one's potential is a very rare and beautiful thing."

This quote by Richard Attenborough highlights the significance of self-realization, which is achieving one's full potential or unique abilities. It emphasizes that it is not common for individuals to recognize their innate talents and make the most of them, making such instances rare and beautiful as they showcase personal growth and fulfillment. The quote encourages us all to strive towards self-awareness and self-improvement in order to realize our full potential.

"If we make peaceful revolution, that will succeed in realizing true independence and uniting our country, we shall be called heroes. But if we fail, and leave behind an empty battlefield with no new social order, but just bitter hatred, we shall be called counter-revolutionaries."

This quote by Richard Attenborough emphasizes the importance of peaceful means for achieving significant change and unity within a society. He suggests that if the revolution aims at establishing true independence and uniting the nation, it will be viewed as heroic, but if it results in failure and only leaves behind bitter animosity without ushering in a new social order, the leaders will be labeled as counter-revolutionaries. In essence, Attenborough is stating that peaceful revolution, which fosters progress, unity, and independence, is preferable to violent upheaval, which may lead to further conflict and division.

"I don't know what the future holds, but I know it will be marvelous."

This quote by Richard Attenborough expresses a hopeful and optimistic view towards the future. It suggests that while he is uncertain about what specific events or challenges lie ahead, he firmly believes in the potential for greatness and wonder in the future. The sentiment embodies a positive outlook and encourages others to maintain faith in the promise of tomorrow.

"You can't carry a child for nine months and then as soon as he or she is born expect to be done with them."

This quote suggests that just as a mother carries a child within her for nine months, investing time, care, and love during pregnancy, the same level of commitment is expected after birth. The phrase "as soon as he or she is born expect to be done with them" implies an abrupt end to the relationship or responsibility, which Richard Attenborough seems to reject. He's emphasizing that parenting, much like pregnancy, is a long-term, ongoing process that requires continued nurturing and support.

"Every part of the elephant, every species, every habitat, is connected to every other part, in a vast, complex web of interdependence. We cannot protect one without protecting all."

Richard Attenborough's quote underscores the intricate web of relationships and interconnections within nature. It suggests that each element, such as an elephant or its parts (species), plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and harmony within ecosystems. Protecting one aspect means ensuring the survival and health of all others, as they are interdependent. This implies that conservation efforts must be comprehensive to ensure the long-term sustainability of our planet's biodiversity and ecosystem health.

I do not have a brain that I long for in dealing with matters of which I am ignorant - that don't come within my ken and a rationale, a reason, an argument and so on - and I can't do that, and I'm not in that bracket at all.

- Richard Attenborough

Reason, Dealing, Which, Argument

My main aim in 'Gandhi' was to project him as the vanguard of non-violence. Nowhere in the world has a movement of non-cooperation sans violence received so much support from masses as Gandhi's movement in India did. He was, to a great extent, responsible for freeing his nation from the British Raj.

- Richard Attenborough

Aim, Non-Violence, Extent, British

Ben Kingsley was my ideal choice for Gandhi, and he really lived up to the expectations of an international audience. I did not find any Indian actor worthy to perform the role of Gandhi in the early Eighties, though there were brilliant performers like Naseeruddin Shah in India.

- Richard Attenborough

Worthy, Role, Ben, Performers

At my age the only problem is with remembering names. When I call everyone darling, it has damn all to do with passionately adoring them, but I know I'm safe calling them that. Although, of course, I adore them too.

- Richard Attenborough

Everyone, Passionately, Darling

We used to indulge hopelessly as a family at Christmas. When the children were little, I dressed up as Father Christmas. They knew it was a gag, but they loved it. I remember stealing into their bedrooms at 1 A.M. and filling the stockings up at the end of the bed.

- Richard Attenborough

Father, I Remember, Bed, Filling

I think it is obscene that we should believe that we are entitled to end somebody's life, no matter what that person has supposedly done or not done.

- Richard Attenborough

Think, Entitled, Supposedly, Obscene

In the late 1940s, there weren't any pop stars, and TV didn't exist.

- Richard Attenborough

Exist, 1940s, Pop, Pop Stars

If someone says they're going to ring me at 10 o'clock and it's 10 past and they haven't rung, I'm irritated.

- Richard Attenborough

Past, Ring, Going, Rung

I think Tom Paine is one of the greatest men that's ever lived. He lived in the 18th century; as you all know, he was an Englishman who was involved in the writing of American Declaration of Independence, the American Constitution, the French Constitution, wrote the great book called 'The Rights of Man' - commercial over.

- Richard Attenborough

Book, Commercial, I Think, 18th Century

In other words, if you - the cost of promoting movies, the advertising and promotion of a movie, the budget is almost as large as the cost of the movie.

- Richard Attenborough

Cost, Other, Promoting, In Other Words

Say what you will about 'Miracle on 34th Street'; I can take my grandchildren to it. If I had a maiden aunt, I could take her, or my ma and pa if they were alive.

- Richard Attenborough

Grandchildren, Alive, Will, Aunt

If you are playing in 'Charley's Aunt,' and your favourite aunt died that lunchtime, you'll still have to go on the stage and play 'Charley's Aunt.'

- Richard Attenborough

Play, Lunchtime, Still, Aunt

I adore my family; they are my joy. However, I am committed to my work. If, on a Saturday morning when I was ostensibly going to be with the children, and something arose at RADA or at UNICEF or at the orphanage or whatever, I would allow the other pressures to take precedent.

- Richard Attenborough

Saturday, However, Allow, UNICEF

Well, you cannot think of cinema now, and you cannot think of cinema in the UK and not place Chaplin in the most extraordinary elevated context, if there can be such a thing, in that he was a genius, he was unique.

- Richard Attenborough

Think, Most, Chaplin, Context

I'm not a great director or an auteur; I'm an ensemble director. I do think I can get wonderful performances out of actors.

- Richard Attenborough

Think, Director, Ensemble, Great Director

'Gandhi' was a well-made film but surely not my best. It had flaws, which I understand two-and-a-half decades after I directed it. I will never call it a propaganda film for the Indian Congress, but it could have been made better had I concentrated on certain minute details.

- Richard Attenborough

Congress, Been, Surely, Flaws

If I were able to write, I probably would. But movies have given me a part of my life where I can express feelings and bring convictions to an audience as if I could write. So I made 'Gandhi' about human relations, prejudice and the empire. In 'Cry Freedom' I expressed my horror and disgust about apartheid.

- Richard Attenborough

My Life, Bring, Part, Gandhi

I know Pandit Ravi Shankar was very upset with me, as I did not use his compositions in 'Gandhi.' I thought that the London Philharmonic Orchestra would prove more effective than his music. It was one of my biggest miscalculations.

- Richard Attenborough

London, Upset, Very, Gandhi

My father thought Gandhi was a great man. I suppose subconsciously, consciously even, I was aware that I wanted to please him and Ma, so I thought doing something like 'Gandhi' would be phenomenal.

- Richard Attenborough

Thought, Doing, Like, Gandhi

And there are certain things, and they are evident, obviously, without being boring about it, but I mean obviously, the two evident and easy ones being Gandhi and Cry Freedom, there are things which I do care about very much and which I would like to stand up and be counted.

- Richard Attenborough

Two, Very, About, Gandhi

I know I'm regarded as an establishment figure, but I was crucified by the establishment for 'Oh! What a Lovely War', 'Gandhi' and 'Cry Freedom.'

- Richard Attenborough

War, Lovely, Figure, Gandhi

I don't really like the Oscars; it's a commercial promotional event. It helps immeasurably to sell films, but it's hardly the Nobel prize.

- Richard Attenborough

Commercial, Like, Films, Nobel Prize

Well, I think In Love and War, which had a wonderful performance by Sandy, Sandra Bullock, who the authorities and, the supposed authorities, in cinema didn't want to know about.

- Richard Attenborough

Love, Think, Which, None

I think there were times when, if circumstances had developed, I might have been tempted into politics. I am a fan of Tony Blair. I think Gordon Brown is a fine man, but I think he's headed for one hell of a bloody struggle.

- Richard Attenborough

Politics, Been, I Think, Gordon

When me and Sheila got married, all we had was an oval table, four chairs, a bed, and a painting by Matthew Smith.

- Richard Attenborough

Bed, Matthew, Smith, Chairs

I like to make films about people who changed the lives of others and asserted human dignity.

- Richard Attenborough

Human Dignity, Films, Lives, Asserted

What actually happened with 'Miracle' was that someone saw me in 'Jurassic Park' and said, 'We want someone with a white beard - how about him?' I've got a round face, white hair, a white beard. I can wear half-moon glasses and waddle a little, cope with a cane, raise my hat.

- Richard Attenborough

Him, Wear, About, Cope

My family were liberal with a small 'l' but passionately doers. I wanted to be a doer.

- Richard Attenborough

Small, Wanted, Passionately, Doer

I lived in an atmosphere where Mama brought 60 Basque refugee children to England during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

- Richard Attenborough

England, Atmosphere, Spanish, Refugee

I'm simply saying that heroes are people whose activities, whose attitudes, and whose judgment you just think, 'Wow. That's good. That's right. That's real.'

- Richard Attenborough

Think, Right, Attitudes, Wow

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