“I am no more humble than my talents require.”
Oscar Levant (1906–1972) American comedian, composer, pianist and actor
As quoted in Memorable Quotations: Jewish Writers of the Past (2005) edited by Carol A. Dingle.
Statement accepting the Screen Actors Guild Achievement Award, read by Julia Roberts, because of Audrey's failing health. (January 1993)
Context: I am more than ever awed and overwhelmed by the monumental talents it was my great, great privilege to work for and with. There is therefore no way I can thank you for this beautiful award without thanking all of them, because it is they who helped and honed, triggered and taught, pushed and pulled, dressed and photographed — and with endless patience and kindness and gentleness, guided and nurtured a totally unknown, insecure, inexperienced, skinny broad into a marketable commodity. I am proud to have been in a business that gives pleasure, creates beauty, and awakens our conscience, arouses compassion, and perhaps most importantly, gives millions a respite from our so violent world. Thank you, Screen Actors Guild and friends, for this huge honor — and for giving me this unique opportunity to express my deepest gratitude and love to all of those who have given me a career that has brought me nothing but happiness.
“I am no more humble than my talents require.”
Oscar Levant (1906–1972) American comedian, composer, pianist and actor
As quoted in Memorable Quotations: Jewish Writers of the Past (2005) edited by Carol A. Dingle.
Andrew Solomon book The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
Source: The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
“I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it”
Stephen Leacock (1869–1944) writer and economist
“I hope my work is more interesting and more intelligent than I am.”
Vincent Gallo (1961) American film director, writer, model, actor and musician
Another Man Essay
Rajinikanth (1950) Indian actor
Naman Ramachandran The Other Rajinikanth (5 January 2014) http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/agenda/150th-anniversary-issue/the-other-rajinikanth.html
“Great, I thought. We just blowtorched a national monument.”
Rick Riordan book The Lightning Thief
Source: The Lightning Thief
Freeman Dyson (1923) theoretical physicist and mathematician
Progress In Religion (2000)
Context: I am neither a saint nor a theologian. To me, good works are more important than theology. We all know that religion has been historically, and still is today, a cause of great evil as well as great good in human affairs. We have seen terrible wars and terrible persecutions conducted in the name of religion. We have also seen large numbers of people inspired by religion to lives of heroic virtue, bringing education and medical care to the poor, helping to abolish slavery and spread peace among nations. Religion amplifies the good and evil tendencies of individual souls.
Friedrich Nietzsche book Human, All Too Human
Section IX, "Man Alone with Himself" / aphorism 496
Human, All Too Human (1878), Helen Zimmern translation