When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying and I suddenly realized I was talking to myself.
Peter O'TooleRead
No one should ever know where conduct ends and acting begins. Conduct unbecoming. That's what acting is.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests a blurred line between genuine behavior and performance in social interactions.
Peter O'Toole's quote reflects on the duality of human behavior, indicating that the essence of acting is intertwined with the way individuals conduct themselves in their daily lives. It highlights the complexity of authenticity in personal interactions, suggesting that we often perform roles in our societal engagements, blurring the lines between true self and the personas we adopt.
Themes
ConductActingPerformanceAuthenticityPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the nature of authenticity in relationships.
More from Peter O'Toole
All quotes βI 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.
Peter O'TooleRead
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.'
Peter O'TooleRead
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.
Peter O'TooleRead
Acting is just being a man. Being human. Not forcing it.
Peter O'TooleRead
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.
Peter O'TooleRead
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