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Orson Welles Quotes (78 quotes)

“[Of a Hollywood movie studio:] This is the biggest electric train a boy ever had!”
―Orson Welles

Source/Notes:
As quoted in: Leo Rosten, Hollywood (1941)

“A good artist should be isolated. If he isn't isolated, something is wrong.”
―Orson Welles

“Personally, I don't like a girlfriend to have a husband. If she'll fool her husband, I figure she'll fool me.”
―Orson Welles

“"I've got to cross the river," the scorpion said to the frog. But the frog knew all about the scorpion and refused. "If I let you climb on my back, you'll sting me, and everyone knows it's fatal to be stung by a scorpion."
"Don't be silly," said the scorpion. "If I sting you, you'll die, and if you die, I'll drown. That's logical, isn't it?" Because the scorpion is an intelligent beast, and therefore logical. The frog had to admit it was and let the scorpion climb up on his back. But when they were half-way across the river, suddenly, the frog felt an atrocious piercing pain. The scorpion had stung it.. Its limbs became paralyzed, and as it sank below the surface, taking the scorpion with it, it cried out with its dying breath: "Is that logical?"
"No," said the scorpion, "it's not. But what would you?
I can't help it. It's my nature."”
―Orson Welles

Source/Notes:
Mr. Arkadin Book 1 (1956), Chapter 8. Similar to the "The Frog and the Mouse," one of Aesop's Fables

“I think we're a kind of desperation. We're sort of a maddening luxury. The basic and essential human is the woman, and all that we're doing is trying to brighten up the place. That's why all the birds who belong to our sex have prettier feathers - because males have got to try and justify their existence.”
―Orson Welles

“A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet.”
―Orson Welles

Source/Notes:
"Ribbon of Dreams". As quoted in: International Film Annual, Issue 2, Doubleday, 1958, p. 164

“At twenty-one, so many things appear solid, permanent, untenable.”
―Orson Welles

“Ecstasy is not really part of the scene we can do on celluloid.”
―Orson Welles

“Every actor in his heart believes everything bad that's printed about him.”
―Orson Welles

Source/Notes:
As quoted in: "Theatrical direction: the basic techniques" (Allyn and Bacon, 1971) by David Welker, p. 394

“Everybody denies I am a genius - but nobody ever called me one!”
―Orson Welles

“Fake is as old as the Eden tree.”
―Orson Welles

“Gluttony is not a secret vice.”
―Orson Welles

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Orson Welles

Picture Source: Wikimedia Commons

Orson Welles

Born: May 6, 1915

Died: October 10, 1985 (aged 70)

Nationality: American

Occupation: Actor, screenwriter, playwright

Bio: George Orson Welles was an American actor, director, writer and producer who worked extensively in theater, radio and film.

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