My father was a certain kind of man - I saw how he treated my mother and his family and how he treated strangers. And I vowed I would never make a film that would not reflect properly on my father's name.
Mine was an easy ride compared to Jackie Robinson's.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote demonstrates the speaker's recognition of the significant challenges faced by Jackie Robinson compared to his own experiences.
Sidney Poitier acknowledges the immense difficulties and struggles that Jackie Robinson endured as a pioneer in breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. By stating that his own journey was an 'easy ride' in comparison, Poitier emphasizes the courage and resilience Robinson displayed in the face of adversity, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the struggles of others while reflecting on one's own path.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about civil rights icons, one might quote this to highlight the struggles faced by Jackie Robinson.
More from Sidney Poitier
All quotes βMy father was the quintessential husband and dad.
I wanted to explore the values that are at work, underpinning my life.
We suffer pain, we hang tight to hope, we nurture expectations, we are plagued occasionally by fears, we are haunted by defeats and unrealized hopes . . . The hoplessness of which I speak is not limited.
We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections.
I was the only Black person on the set. It was unusual for me to be in a circumstance in which every move I made was tantamount to representation of 18 million people.
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What I did at Ole Miss had nothing to do with going to classes. My objective was to destroy the system of white supremacy.
As long as you have the courage to admit mistakes, things can be turned around.
But fear no more! I would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory. No, I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo.
What is a fear of living? It's being preeminently afraid of dying. It is not doing what you came here to do, out of timidity and spinelessness. The antidote is to take full responsibility for yourself - for the time you take up and the space you occupy. If you don't know what you're here to do, then just do some good.
Be brave and fearless to know that even if you do make a wrong decision, you're making it for a good reason.