Terrence Howard Quotes

Powerful Terrence Howard for Daily Growth

About Terrence Howard

Terrence Dashon Howard, born on April 11, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois, is an accomplished American actor, producer, musician, and songwriter. Known for his powerful performances and versatile roles, Howard has left a significant impact on the film industry. Raised by his grandmother in a challenging neighborhood, Howard developed a passion for music at a young age. He learned to play several instruments, including the piano and guitar, which later influenced his work as a musician. After dropping out of school, he joined a musical group called the Detailed Teases, which performed throughout Chicago. Howard's acting career began in the late 1980s with small roles in television shows like "Growing Pains" and "Roseanne." His big break came in 1995 when he starred as O-Dog in the critically acclaimed HBO series, "Oz." The role earned him a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series. In the following years, Howard appeared in various films such as "The Faculty" (1998), "Mr. 3000" (2004), and "Hustle & Flow" (2005), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. His other notable works include roles in "Iron Man" (2008) as James Rhodes, "The Butler" (2013), and "Empire" (2015-2020), where he portrayed music mogul Lucious Lyon. Howard's life experiences and struggles have influenced his acting choices, often choosing roles that reflect the complexities of the African American experience. His dedication to his craft and unwavering commitment to authentic performances make him one of Hollywood's most respected actors.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Everything's possible in this world if you set your mind to it."

This quote by Terrence Howard suggests that with a determined, focused mindset, one can achieve anything they aspire to within their world. It underscores the power of positive thinking and the belief in personal potential as essential tools for success. By setting one's sights on a goal and maintaining resolve, the possibilities are endless.


"In life, you must be willing to sacrifice the good for the great."

This quote suggests that sometimes we have to let go of something that is merely 'good' in order to achieve something even more significant, transformative, or impactful - the 'great'. In other words, it's about prioritizing long-term growth over immediate comfort, making tough decisions, and taking risks for a greater purpose. This mindset encourages personal development and the pursuit of meaningful goals that exceed our current circumstances.


"Success isn't about money or power or social status. It's about who you are as a person."

This quote by Terrence Howard suggests that true success is not defined by material possessions, influence, or prestige, but rather by one's personal character. He implies that the essence of being successful lies in becoming a good, moral, and virtuous individual; someone who embodies qualities such as kindness, integrity, empathy, resilience, and wisdom. Success, in this perspective, is about self-improvement and personal growth, rather than external accomplishments alone.


"I had an opportunity to do something that would change my family's life forever and I didn't take it because I was afraid."

This quote conveys a powerful message about fear, opportunities, and personal growth. Terrence Howard is expressing that he missed out on an opportunity which could have significantly improved his family's life due to his fear. It suggests that sometimes fear prevents us from taking chances, even when those chances could lead to significant positive changes in our lives or the lives of those we care about. The quote serves as a reminder to overcome fear and seize opportunities, because they may never come again.


"Fear is the enemy of success, but if we learn to conquer our fear, no dream will be too big for us to achieve."

Terrence Howard's quote emphasizes that fear can act as a significant obstacle preventing one from achieving their goals or dreams. Fear is seen as an adversary in the journey towards success because it can cause hesitation, doubt, and inaction. However, if we learn to conquer our fears - to face them head-on and push past them - no dream will be too big for us to achieve. This quote underscores the idea that overcoming fear is a crucial step towards unlocking our full potential and attaining great success. It encourages individuals to take risks, believe in themselves, and persist in their endeavors despite any apprehensions or challenges they may encounter along the way.


I'm trying to make enough money where I can be financially independent and be able to go and just pursue that thing that everybody really needs, just pursue my family and the cause of my family.

- Terrence Howard

Go, Needs, Everybody, Enough Money

When you hear buzz around the beehive, you know they're making honey in there.

- Terrence Howard

Honey, Know, Making, Beehive

We both can be the most beautiful and benevolent creatures on the planet, but then there's another side that can be as harsh and as ugly as the darkest thing you could imagine seeing.

- Terrence Howard

Creatures, Side, Imagine, Benevolent

And, so yeah, I'll always want to work in independent films because you're not forced into a category or a formula.

- Terrence Howard

Independent, Always, Films, Category

I can't tell you if one day I'll be standing up there with an Oscar or directing, but I am going to be the best human being I possibly can.

- Terrence Howard

Human Being, Going, Oscar, Possibly

The difference with Cleveland is that the racial tension was not a casual taste of it. It was outlandish.

- Terrence Howard

Taste, Casual, Tension, Outlandish

As a child our dreams got scattered all about and all our future prospects got scattered to so many places, and we spend our lives trying to find the little pieces that make up our lives and make up the dreams that we had as a child that got blown away in the windstorm.

- Terrence Howard

Away, Prospects, About, Blown Away

Sometimes the only way to make palatable that which is appalling and apprehensive is to season it with some humor.

- Terrence Howard

Humor, Some, Which, Appalling

We call the Creator father, because we rely upon Him to protect us, guide us, feed us, keep us warm, to discipline us and all those things. I try to take my cue from the Creator, with regard to my children.

- Terrence Howard

Father, Discipline, Him, Cue

I don't think President Obama has been that revolutionary in reaching out to ethnic communities. President Reagan did a lot for the black community that people don't realize.

- Terrence Howard

Think, Ethnic, Been, Communities

In every person we meet there's this little piece of God in them and that's who you talk to. And that's the only person that you allow to talk to you. When something else is speaking, you walk away from that. If it's not good, if it's not love, you walk away from it.

- Terrence Howard

Love, Away, Allow, Little Piece

And I'm very surprised that all this stuff actually worked out to where I could have a career in film, gain the benefit of my education, and be thankful that I was able to break into my craft as an actor.

- Terrence Howard

Education, Career, Very, Surprised

Every little job becomes a dream, and you don't recall it anymore, and maybe you might have a deja vu moment, but it's like something you dreamed earlier.

- Terrence Howard

Like, Maybe, Might, Deja

Every role you play is literally - and I've said this before - every single role that you play, the only way you can connect to that character is because that was a piece of you that was scattered around that yard, almost like we got caught up in some whirlwind.

- Terrence Howard

Play, Some, Caught, Whirlwind

The only thing that really matters in the initial part of my career, the worst mistake I've ever made was try to do things to please the audience thinking how the audience is going to respond if I do this.

- Terrence Howard

Career, The Only Thing, Part, Respond

And when I stopped doing that and started thinking about what feels natural and what feels right to me and started pleasing myself, then it became good.

- Terrence Howard

Feels, Became, Stopped, Pleasing

Every one of us is an artist, and as an artist, you really can stroll into any venue that you want, as long as you take your time to learn the etiquette of that venue.

- Terrence Howard

Learn, Artist, Venue, Stroll

All the things we have to remember, and I've mentioned this before, is that we're all artists.

- Terrence Howard

Remember, Artists, Before, Mentioned

I ad lib. I've gotta bring my own into it.

- Terrence Howard

My Own, Gotta, Ad, Lib

So I show appreciation for the little gifts that have been handed to me.

- Terrence Howard

Me, Show, Been, Gifts

The reason that I'm an actor, or an artist, is ultimately because I'm trying to paint a self-portrait, and the most complete and beautiful self-portrait that you can.

- Terrence Howard

Reason, Artist, Paint, Complete

I like to watch mankind in its futile attempt to understand the unknown, when they don't even understand that which they know.

- Terrence Howard

Mankind, Like, Which, Futile

I don't have any love for this business or the game or for acting. This is my day job.

- Terrence Howard

Love, Business, Game, Day Job

My life's experiences, I've always had, my uncle used to call it antenna. I know what's going to happen oftentimes before it happened when it's involving me.

- Terrence Howard

Happen, Always, Oftentimes, Antenna

No, most of the decisions that I make with regard to taking roles, I just look for something that's challenging, something that I think I can accomplish, you know.

- Terrence Howard

Think, I Think, Roles, Challenging

I am an engineer, but what I find important and necessary is that you just learn things as you go along.

- Terrence Howard

Learn, Go, Necessary, Engineer

I've always had a natural fear of the police, or abuse of their power.

- Terrence Howard

Natural, Always, Abuse, Police

I just wanted to be a scientist.

- Terrence Howard

Just, Wanted, Scientist

Every artist has to grow, and has to challenge themselves with a new form of expression.

- Terrence Howard

Grow, New, Expression, Themselves

And right now I may just be living inside the heart of the body, and I one day hope to move to the brain.

- Terrence Howard

Living, May, Move, Brain

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