I'm always drawn to stories that people don't know about, particularly when they're inside of a story that everyone knows about.
Robert RedfordRead
I had just arrived in New York from California. I was nineteen years old and excited beyond belief. I was an art student and an acting student and behaved as most young actors did - meaning that there was no such thing as a good actor, 'cause you yourself hadn't shown up yet.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the early experiences of a young artist in New York, highlighting excitement and the journey of self-discovery.
In this quote, Robert Redford shares his feelings upon arriving in New York as a young artist. At nineteen, he was filled with enthusiasm and eagerness, yet he acknowledges a common truth among aspiring actors: the realization that true talent emerges only after one arrives at a deeper understanding of oneself. His words capture both the thrill of pursuing art and the challenges of self-exploration inherent in the artistic process.
Themes
New YorkArtActingSelf-DiscoveryYouthJourney
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech about following your dreams in the arts.
More from Robert Redford
All quotes βPeople say I've gone against Hollywood, but I've tried to be independent within Hollywood, tried to be my own person.
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When I was a kid, all I knew was that I felt more comfortable sitting in one chair than in another. And now I realize it was because one chair was older. I still respond directly to the age of things.
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For me, the Sundance Institute is just an extension of something I believed in, which is creating a mechanism for new voices to have a place to develop and be heard.
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Storytelling was a way to see the world bigger than the one you were looking at, and that had great appeal for me. I think, since that was part of my upbringing, it became part of me, and I wanted to pass it along to my kids and my grandkids.
Robert RedfordRead
Be careful of success; it has a dark side.
Robert RedfordRead
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