Top quotes by Peter O'Toole

I woke up one morning to find I was famous. I bought a white Rolls-Royce and drove down Sunset Boulevard, wearing dark specs and a white suit, waving like the Queen Mum. Votes: 35

Where do I begin? I loved working with Kate Hepburn, which was one of the highlights of my life; Working with Richard Burton in Beckett was another great joy. Votes: 24

We were in the Arabian Desert for nine months. And I was having the time of my life. It could have been an archeological expedition, a military expedition. Votes: 17

My favorite food from my homeland is Guinness. My second choice in Guinness. My third choice - would have to be Guinness. Votes: 12

I'm Irish. That means I'm Catholic. But, truth is, now I'm a retired Christian. Votes: 11

I loved doing My Favorite Year, which was great fun, and The Ruling Class, which I made with all my chums. Votes: 10

All the minor sports injuries you acquire over the years begin to multiply like flies when you get over 70. Votes: 10

The good parts are the people who don't make do. They're the interesting people. Lear doesn't make do. Votes: 10

Irish women are always carrying water on their heads, and always carrying their husbands home from pubs. Such things are the greatest posture-builders in the world. Votes: 9

No one can take Jesus away from me. There's no doubt there was a historical figure of tremendous importance, with enormous notions. Such as peace. Votes: 9

Pope Paul III was the greatest thief in the history of the church. Votes: 9

Public crucifixion is no fun. Votes: 9

The only exercise I take is walking behind the coffins of friends who took exercise. Votes: 8

In my day England, Scotland, Wales had 80 drama schools. There are none left. So there's no training, no discipline. Votes: 8

It's a razor's edge, a romance with an old man and a young woman. Votes: 7

Right after I left drama school, I had a job. Votes: 7

It's very inconvenient because every time I finish, let's say, a chapter of a book, I think I'm going to ring Richard and then realize: Oh, Christ, I've buried him. I buried him last year. Votes: 7

I know nothing at all about women. They are an amazing, beautiful mystery. Votes: 7

If I'm not at my study by 10:00, 10:30, forget it, I can't write a word. Votes: 6

Every three or four years, I'm hot again. Votes: 6

My plumbing is no one's business but my own. Votes: 6

I suggest that an education and reading and facts aren't bad things on which to ponder a few notions. Votes: 5

Actors have given up their clout. Now decision making is in the hands of lighting men, designers, bankers, special-effects people. We need to cut that out and just go with the most able trained actors in the business. Votes: 5

I have my very own Oscar now to be with me until death us do part. Votes: 5

For me, life has either been a wake or a wedding. Votes: 4

I've stopped acting, but I don't think I've finished using my voice. I could, and probably will, record the whole of Shakespeare's sonnets. They live at the side of my bed and are my constant companions. Votes: 4

I quite like being old. Votes: 4

When I work with young people, I grab energy from them by the handsful. Votes: 4

I saw a man killed in front of my eyes just before my eighth birthday. Votes: 4

There are only three indispensable things: the audience, the actor and the author. The rest is dross. Votes: 2

Being sober for so many years is getting interesting. Votes: 0

Do you not know that King Kong the first was just three foot six inches tall? He only came up to Faye Wray's belly button! If God could do the tricks that we can do he'd be a happy man! Votes: 0

Always a bridesmaid never a bride my foot! Votes: 0

I will not be a common man. I will stir the smooth sands of monotony. Votes: 0

Everyone praises Sachin Tendulkar. He may be a genius in his own right but in my book, Rahul Dravid is the artist. Dravid's defence tactics, his strokes, his cuts, his grace are truly amazing. I'd like to meet the chap sometime and take my hat off to him. Votes: 0

George Eliot is my only steady girlfriend. We go to bed together every night. Votes: 0

One time in the late '50s, when Peter Finch, Laurence Harvey, and I were all offered the same movie role - the assumption being that we weren't friends - we marched up to producer Dino De Laurentiis's door and declared in unison, 'We don't think we're suitable for the part.' Votes: 0

I'm the most gregarious of men and love good company, but never less alone when alone. Votes: 0

Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. Votes: 0

No one can take Jesus away from me.... There's no doubt there was a historical figure of tremendous importance, with enormous notions. Such as peace. Votes: 0

If you can't do something willingly and joyfully, then don't do it. If you give up drinking, don't go moaning about it; go back on the bottle. Do. As. Thou. Wilt. Votes: 0

I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!!! Votes: 0

When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying and I suddenly realized I was talking to myself. Votes: 0

I don't go for this auto-cannibalism. Very damaging. Votes: 0

It's such a relief for me to sit in front of a tape recorder and not be using it to learn my lines, Votes: 0

I have no intention of uttering my last words on the stage. Room service and a couple of depraved young women will do me quite nicely for an exit. Votes: 0

I will not be a common man. I will stir the smooth sands of monotony. I do not crave security. I wish to hazard my soul to opportunity. Votes: 0

There's always a hunger, when you're young, to go from peak to peak and avoid the valleys. Votes: 0

It's such a relief for me to sit in front of a tape recorder and not be using it to learn my lines. Votes: 0

I'm a working stiff, baby, just like everybody else. Votes: 0

It is time for me to chuck in the sponge. To retire from films and stage. The heart for it has gone out of me: it won't come back. Votes: 0

I'm not working-class: I come from the criminal classes. Votes: 0

We all had such larks. Yes, it was hard work but the friendships and the genuine respect we had for one another, that side I shall miss greatly. I've stopped acting, but I don't think I've finished using my voice. I could, and probably will, record the whole of Shakespeare's sonnets. They live at the side of my bed and are my constant companions. Votes: 0

Actors have to stay optimistic. The moment we start thinking otherwise, we're dead. Votes: 0

My father was a racetrack bookie. Votes: 0

I'm a very physical actor. I use everything - toes, teeth, ears, everything. I don't simply mean physical in the sense of movement and vigour. I find myself remembering the shape of a scene by how I'm standing, what I'm doing. Votes: 0

I put steam on the table by being an actor. That is how I live. The longer I live, the more expensive it becomes. So I do my work. And I can't be immensely picky. How many beautiful scripts come in one's lifetime? I have had more than anybody, practically. Votes: 0

A victory? What have we won? We've won a rock in the middle of a wasteland, on the shores of a poisoned sea. Votes: 0

Omar Sharif and I spent nine months in the desert, day after day for nine months. Votes: 0

I was apprehensive about bringing off this Homer. Votes: 0

A few years back I was asked if I would go and meet a director and his various acolytes, and it occurred to me halfway through the meeting that what I was doing was auditioning. And I thought, 'Well, hang on buddy. I've done half a century of this.' Votes: 0

Acting is just being a man. Being human. Not forcing it. Votes: 0

I have unqualified admiration for Brad Pitt. Votes: 0

If you can't do something willingly and joyfully, then don't do it. Votes: 0

People talk about the '60s, but they were merely a mass production of what the '50s had begun. Votes: 0

Writing is a kind of performing art, and I can't sit down to write unless I'm dressed. I don't mean dressed in a suit, but dressed well and comfortably and I have to be shaved and bathed. Votes: 0

The common denominator of all my friends is that they're dead. Votes: 0

My professional acting life, stage and screen, has brought me public support, emotional fulfillment and material comfort. It has brought me together with fine people, good companions with whom I've shared the inevitable lot of all actors: flops and hits. Votes: 0

There is a legend. And to protest is daft. Votes: 0

I can now tell from the envelope whether or not it is a good script. Votes: 0

We were doing it under the most extraordinary circumstances, but the first out of the tent in the morning would be David Lean. He said to me on the very first day of shooting, Pete, this is the beginning of a great adventure. Votes: 0

I've played farce on the stage, but I have never played any sort of comedy on the screen. Votes: 0

My dear sir, it haunted me for the rest of my life. Votes: 0

No one ever watched competitive swimming. Votes: 0

I have no memories I'm prepared to share with you. Votes: 0

When I'm doing theatre, I prefer to be doing cinema. When I'm doing cinema, I prefer to be doing theatre. Votes: 0

I'm not from the working class. I'm from the criminal class. Votes: 0

Acting has been described as farting about in disguise. Votes: 0

And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be. Votes: 0

Booze is the most outrageous of drugs which is why I chose it. Votes: 0

Films were never in my budget. Didn't occur to me till much later. I hoped for a long, good life, which I've had and I'm having as an actor. I didn't expect the rest. Votes: 0

He's a scoundrel, young Brad Pitt, who led me, his elderly colleague, astray more than once. Votes: 0

I am human, all too bloody human. Votes: 0

I became a professional cricket teacher about 20 years ago. I had a son born to me when I was 50, and I thought, he needs someone to bowl to him. Votes: 0

I can make the best French toast. Votes: 0

I can't stand light. I hate weather. Votes: 0

I can't stand light. I hate weather. My idea of heaven is moving from one smoke-filled room to another. Votes: 0

I did quite enjoy the days when one went for a beer at one's local in Paris and woke up in Corsica. Votes: 0

I do not choose to be a common man…it is my right to be uncommon—if I can…I seek opportunity—not security…I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed… to refuse to barter incentive for a dole… I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopias…. Votes: 0

I found him perhaps the least terrifying man I've ever met in the theater—because at first glance I could see through him and he could see through me, and he knew that I knew that he knew. Look, love, I've been bullied all my life by bigger experts than Larry Olivier, I can assure you, and he's just got to get in line. Votes: 0

I love working with young people, which is to me a big kick. Votes: 0

I tell my children to avoid theatre and go into cinema and TV. Votes: 0

I wish to hazard my soul to opportunity. Votes: 0

I wouldn't mind being a lord. Votes: 0

If you cannot say what you mean, your majesty, you will never mean what you say and a gentleman should always mean what he says. Votes: 0

If you can't do something willingly and joyfully, then don't do it, Votes: 0

If you do not surrender, I shall be forced to shoot you through the head with a rather large bullet. Votes: 0

I'm a professional and I'll do anything - a poetry reading, television, cinema, anything that allows me to act. Votes: 0

It distresses us to return work which is not perfect. Votes: 0

It grieves us to produce work that is not perfect. Votes: 0

It was a mistake and I made the mistake because I was conservative and played safe. And that way lies failure." "Must do it... constantly go to the well... constantly try, try, try. Dare. Dare, Dare. Who dares wins Votes: 0

It was around 1985 before I heard the news of President Kennedy's assassination. Votes: 0

It's my job, it's what I do, it's what I'm on earth to do and it's who I am. Votes: 0

Life turned out much better than I thought. I knew after a little while that I could act. Votes: 0

Many years ago I sent an old, beloved jacket to a cleaner, the Sycamore Cleaners. It was a leather jacket covered in Guinness and blood and marmalade, one of those jobs... and it came back with a little note pinned to it, and on the note it said, 'It distresses us to return work which is not perfect.' So that will do for me. That can go on my tombstone. Votes: 0

My own favorite is something called Rogue Male. Votes: 0

Question: How do you know you're God? Answer: Simple. When I pray to him, I find I'm talking to myself. Votes: 0

The only thing I've ever been interested in teaching anyone in life is cricket. Votes: 0

There may be honor among thieves, but there's none in politicians. Votes: 0

There's a remedy for everything except death. Votes: 0

What I like is bottomless flattery. Votes: 0

When my father would come home from the track after a good day, the whole room would light up; it was fairyland. But when he lost, it was black. In our house, it was always either a wake ... or a wedding. Votes: 0

I will not be an ordinary man, because I have a right to be extraordinary. Votes: 0

Marriage is forever. It's like cement. Votes: 0