D. W. Griffith Quotes

Professions:Director

Born: January 22, 1875

David Wark Griffith, a pioneering filmmaker, reshaped the very language of cinema. While his artistic legacy is complex, his philosophy on motivation and action remains starkly potent: he believed in the relentless pursuit of a grand vision, no matter the cost. Griffith’s own life was a testament to audacious action, transforming a fledgling art form through sheer will and monumental risk. His quotes resonate because they capture the raw, unvarnished energy required to create from nothing, urging us to seize our own narratives with unwavering conviction and to act as the architects of our own destinies.

D. W. Griffith Quotes (10)

"Movies are written in sand: applauded today, forgotten tomorrow."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Wisdom

"Actors should never be important. Only directors should have power and place."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Wisdom

"It takes two years on the stage for an actor or an actress to learn how to speak correctly and to manage his voice properly, and it takes about ten years to master the subtle art of being able to hold one's audience."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Wisdom

"I am fond of depicting the lives of young folks for one thing, and if you have parts for girls or young men, you must absolutely have young people to fill them - that is generally acknowledged now."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Wisdom

"Well, I certainly did not think that I could do worse."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Wisdom

"There will never be talking pictures."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Wisdom

"When I work for someone else, I always make money for them. When I back my own ideas, I am bound to lose."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Wisdom

"Now supposing I had the part of a young woman to give out, one that wanted some excellent acting. If I were to go to the stage for my actress I would have to take a matured woman, one who would act splendidly, but who would look too old for the requirements."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Mindfulness

"I pick out young people and teach them in less time than it would take me to alter the methods of people from the boards, and I get actors who look the parts they have to fill."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Creativity

"Remember how small the world was before I came along? I brought it all to life: I moved the whole world onto a 20-foot screen."

D. W. Griffith
Topic: Wisdom
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