55 Denzel Washington Quotes On Success, Dreams and Love

Denzel Washington is a prolific actor that has portrayed a wide variety of characters so convincingly we often do not know where Denzel ends and the character he’s playing begins.

Allow these Denzel Washington quotes to show you the value of dedication, hard work, and following your dreams.

Unquestionably, one of Hollywood’s most charismatic and magnetic superstars, Denzel Washington is known for his huge body of work spanning from socially conscious dramas, biopics, and suspense thrillers.

Aside from creating outstanding movies, Denzel along with director Spike Lee, have also paved the way for other African – American actors and actresses.

Washington attended Fordham University in 1977, where he earned a B.A. in Journalism.

He found time to pursue his interest in acting when he graduated and moved to San Francisco.

There, Washington got his first taste of theater, by winning a scholarship to the American Conservatory Theatre.

Washington was first noticed in 1982 when he joined the cast of the long-running TV series St. Elsewhere.

Since then, Washington has starred in over 40 movies, 4 theater productions and has been nominated for over 30 different awards.

A person who has accomplished so much, from such humble beginnings has clearly tapped into his Everyday Power and we are proud to have such amazing Denzel Washington quotes on the blog.

Enjoy reading these quotes, and don’t forget to also check out our collection of Martin Scorsese quotes from his amazing film career.

Also, check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily wisdom. 

See the rest of our quote database for even more inspirational ideas and thoughts.

Inspirational Denzel Washington Quotes From His Movies and Interviews

1. You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it.” – Denzel Washington

If you’re looking for more money, more love, more success, or more impact you always have to manage the stress, obligations, commitments, and criticism that come along with all of it. When you want more, you get more of everything.

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2. “Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.” – Denzel Washington

What are you preparing for? Are you preparing for your greatest achievement, whatever that may be?

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3. “If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don’t just be mad at him or her.” – Denzel Washington

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4. “I never really had the classic struggle. I had faith.” – Denzel Washington

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5. “In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.” – Denzel Washington

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6. “Acting is just a way of making a living, the family is life.” – Denzel Washington

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7. “You have to grab moments when they happen. I like to improvise and ad lib.” – Denzel Washington

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8. “I work hard for the audience. It’s entertainment. I don’t need validation.” – Denzel Washington

9. “We do what we have to so we can do what we want to.” – Denzel Washington

10. “When you don’t understand something, you label it and condemn it.” – Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington Quotes On Acting

11. “Every day, sincerely and without phoniness, Lou demonstrated by his actions how very vital it is – more than anything else – to understand and appreciate the people who work with you….Do your job well, learn your job well, but always remember that the people you work with are your most valuable asset. Embrace them. Honor them. Respect them” – Denzel Washington

12. “What it taught me was forgiveness. It taught me that when people present themselves in a certain way, there’s probably some back story or issue or reason for the way that they are. It’s not you. It’s them. And a lot of times, it’s about something that’s completely out of their control” – Denzel Washington

13. “When I was a child I thought I saw an angel. It had wings and kinda looked like my sister. I opened the door so some light could come into the room, and it sort of faded away. My mother said it was probably my Guardian Angel.” – Denzel Washington

14. “We’ve all received our share of good fortune, so that’s my definition of much. A single blessing is all the bounty in the world, and if you’ve been blessed at all you’re meant to pass some of that on. You’re meant to set a positive example. That’s our responsibility” – Denzel Washington

15. “My faith helps me understand that circumstances don’t dictate my happiness, my inner peace.” – Denzel Washington

16. “I think a role model is a mentor – someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them.” – Denzel Washington

Who are you learning from? Who are you studying? What kind of people are you building relationships with?

Denzel Washington Quotes On Love and Life

17. “Black or white good parts are hard to come by. A good actor with a good opportunity has a shot; without the opportunity it doesn’t matter how good you are.” – Denzel Washington

18. “It’s simple: You get a part. You play a part. You play it well. You do your work and you go home. And what is wonderful about movies is that once they’re done, they belong to the people. Once you make it, it’s what they see. That’s where my head is at.” – Denzel Washington

19. “I’m very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That’s my cultural historical background, my genetic makeup, but it’s not all of who I am nor is it the basis from which I answer every question.”– Denzel Washington

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Denzel Washington Quotes On Love

20. “My mother never gave up one me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back.” – Denzel Washington

21. If you don’t trust the pilot, don’t go.” – Denzel Washington

22. My ultimate life dream project is my kids. My family.” – Denzel Washington

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More Denzel Washington quotes and sayings

23. “True desire in the heart for anything good is God’s proof to you sent beforehand to indicate that it’s yours already.” – Denzel Washington

24. “If you want to be a warrior, you have to train.” – Denzel Washington

25. “Do what you gotta do so you can do what you wanna do.” – Denzel Washington

26. “Don’t be afraid to fail big, to dream big.” – Denzel Washington

27. “You never know how you’re going to affect people.” – Denzel Washington

28. “I just try to be honest and true to the character and play the part.” – Denzel Washington

29. “Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.” – Denzel Washington

30. “I actually don’t hang out with any celebrities. My closest friends are old friends. And my real close friends, none of them are actors.” – Denzel Washington

31. “Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.” – Denzel Washington

32. “I’m not interested in being a celebrity; I’m interested in being a better actor and a better director.” – Denzel Washington

33. “At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about what you’ve done with those accomplishments. Its about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington

34. “So you never know who you touch. You never know how or when you’ll have an impact, or how important your example can be to someone else.” – Denzel Washington

35. “There are two kinds of pain in this world. The pain that hurts, the pain that alters.” – Denzel Washington

36. “Old man’s gotta be the old man, fish has gotta be the fish. You gotta be who you are in this world, no matter what.” – Denzel Washington

37. “There’s nothing good or bad, except by comparison.” – Denzel Washington

38. “Don’t get all sentimental on me, Makes me think I’m gonna die.” – Denzel Washington

39. “A wise woman knows the importance of speaking life into her man. If you love him; believe in him, encourage him and be his peace.” – Denzel Washington

40. “Just because you are doing a lot more doesn’t mean you are getting a lot done. Don’t confuse movement with progress!” – Denzel Washington

41. “I’d be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I’d been given. I’d be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.” – Denzel Washington

Are you doing what you are truly capable of? Will you be able to live with the regret if you don’t? What scares you the most about going for it?

42. “My mother used to tell me man gives the award, God gives the reward. I don’t need another plague.” – Denzel Washington

Believe that what you are doing is bigger than yourself, and you will find an irreplaceable peace.

43. “The time to worrying about flying is when you’re on the ground. When you’re up in the air, it’s too late. No point in worrying about it then.” – Denzel Washington

We are able to be in our ‘flow’ when we are well prepared and in the moment. Allow yourself to be in the ‘flow’ of things with great preparation and a strong sense of ease and belonging. That is is what you scan control.

44. “If I am a cup maker, I’m interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.” – Denzel Washington

Focus on what you are doing, and not the critics. Critics never made history, and critics never made anyone’s life better. Focus on adding value in your own unique special way.

45. “I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me – spiritually and financially.” – Denzel Washington

What decisions have you made lately about what you put into your body? Do you treat your body like a Ferrari, only putting in high octane gas, or like a hoopty, where it doesn’t matter what you put in there since it never goes about 20mph! 🙂

Insightful Denzel Washington quotes

46. “You can beat or jail me or even kill me, but I am not going to be what you want me to be!” – Denzel Washington

47. “The purpose of war is to serve a political end but the true nature of war is to serve itself.” – Denzel Washington

48. “You practice anything a long time, you get good at it. You tell a hundred lies a day, it sounds like the truth. Everyone betrays everyone.” – Denzel Washington

49. “I don’t concern myself with award. I’d been to the party enough times to know it really didn’t matter.” – Denzel Washington

50. “Any good piece of material like Shakespeare ought to be open to reinterpretation.” – Denzel Washington

51. “When I did A Soldier’s Story, I was very young and green and thought I knew everything-now I know I know everything!” – Denzel Washington

52. “In any profession it gets to be a grind.” – Denzel Washington

53. “I work hard for the audience. It’s entertainment. I don’t need validation.” – Denzel Washington

54. “I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me – spiritually and financially.” – Denzel Washington

55. “The time to worrying about flying is when you’re on the ground. When you’re up in the air, it’s too late. No point in worrying about it then.” – Denzel Washington

Which Denzel Washington quotes were your favorite?

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