Either you're growing or you're decaying; there's no middle ground. If you're standing still, you're decaying.
Alan ArkinRead
Every physicist knows that things connect with each other. To isolate things is not the way the universe works - winning best actor is arbitrary.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The universe is interconnected, and individual achievements can be seen as arbitrary.
In this quote, Alan Arkin emphasizes that the interconnectedness of all things in the universe means that isolating individual accomplishments is misleading. He suggests that accolades and achievements, such as winning an award, can feel arbitrary when viewed in the broader context of existence and the connections between individuals and their contributions.
Themes
InterconnectednessAchievementPhilosophyUniverseArbitrary
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about teamwork, one might quote this to highlight the importance of collaboration.
More from Alan Arkin
All quotes βI used to watch the world as if it was a performance and I would realize that certain things that people did moved me, and certain things didn't move me, and I tried to analyze, even at that age, six and seven and eight, why I was moved by certain things they did
Alan ArkinRead
If you want to be an actor and you love acting, you can do it whether you're doing something else or not. You can be connected with community theater or make your own little movies. But if you want to be a movie star, you've got a tough road ahead of you.
Alan ArkinRead
Everybody's career has ups and downs. I like to take chances; I don't like to stand still. And I don't give a damn what the market is interested in; I want to try things.
Alan ArkinRead
I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?
Alan ArkinRead
I love working if it's with people who are capable of having a good time. People with a little bit of enjoyment of what they do. If it's enormous pressure, and people feel that their lives are at stake, then it's agony. So I try to pick projects where I feel like I'm going to avoid those traps.
Alan ArkinRead
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