George Orson Welles was born on 6 May 1915 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States of America. His parents, Richard and Beatrice, were incredibly bright people who introduced their son to worlds far beyond his Wisconsin roots. His alma mater was the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he learnt the drama lessons. His personality got shaped here as he came to know many things regarding the films. He was an American actor, director, screenwriter and producer who is best remembered for his wonderful work in radio, theatre and films.
George Orson Welles is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. He was active from 1931 to 1985 in his career. He made his Citizen Kane in 1941, which he wrote, directed, produced, and acted in and is considered one of the most influential films in the history of the art. Nevertheless, Citizen Kane received nine Academy Award nominations, of which Welles received three (best actor, director, and original screenplay), but only the screenplay won an Oscar. His notable work is as under-
- The Magnificent Ambersons
- Touch of Evil
- The Lady from Shanghai
- Citizen Kane
- The Other Side of the Wind
- The Third Man
He was the founder of Mercury Theatre. He was a great personality who knew everything related to film production. His nature of working and his determination towards his work made him a Hero in real life in his field. The list of awards earned by him are -
- Grammy Award (1981)
- Grammy Award (1978)
- Grammy Award (1976)
- Academy Award (1971)
- Honorary Oscar (1971)
- Academy Award (1942)
Hence, Welles was a magnificent personality who is regarded as the greatest person in American film history. He took his last breath on
10 October 1985 (aged 70) in Los Angeles, California, U.S. and his Resting place in Ronda in Spain. Below are some of the famous Orson Welles Quotes.
We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.
The author tries to explain that a person is born alone; he lives alone and dies alone. It is only through love and friendship in life that we create the moment of not being alone. But the reality is is that we have to live by ourselves, and loneliness is a part of life.
If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.
Life is a long journey, and it has to be enjoyed totally so that we can have a happy ending. The happy ending can easily be obtained by stopping where we want to stop. We must know when we have to stop in life so that we can have a happy ending.
Nobody gets justice. People only get good luck or bad luck.
Orson Welles says that it is very difficult to get justice in real life. Justice is always compromised on some grounds or the other. People can become lucky or unlucky. They can become lucky if they get some amount of justice in their life. However, justice cannot be easily obtained.
Create your visual style... let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.
Orson Welles was a magnificent personality. He had a larger vision of life. He tries to explain that we must create a life in a visual style so that it can be unique, yet it must be different from others to easily recognise it.
Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch.
Orson Welles was a different personality who had different priorities in life. He was involved in a film production business. The above quote helps us to understand his psychology towards life. He says that you must not ask what you can do for your country, but you must be ready to give your life for your country.
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people.
Orson Welles says that his doctor has advised him to focus more on his health. His doctor advised him to take care of his health and his meals so that he can progress in life.
Race hate isn't human nature; race hate is the abandonment of human nature.
Orson Welles tries to tell us that race hate is a common phenomenon present on the earth. Hating a particular race is a common procedure that is followed by human beings. When we hate a particular race, we try to abandon the diversity present in the world, and it also shows the abandonment of Human nature through which we come close together.
Continue reading some more Orson Welles Quotes...
The enemy of society is middle class and the enemy of life is middle age.
Orson Welles has a different point of view toward life. The enemy of society is the middle class because the middle-class people have a middle age mentality, which causes a problem in society and people's lives.
I hate television. I hate it as much as peanuts. But I can't stop eating peanuts.
Orson Welles tells about his behaviour. He says that he hates television. Also, he hates peanuts, but due to his love for a peanut, he cannot stop eating them. Thus, he loves eating a lot of peanuts.
The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.
Film making is an art. If a person is confined by some limitations then his art will never grow. To grow in a career like filmmaking, one has to be beyond the limitations so that his career might flourish.
Living in the lap of luxury isn't bad except that you never know when luxury is going to stand up.
Orson says that to become successful, one must leave the luxurious lifestyle so that he can move ahead. Living in the lap of luxury is not bad, but if you do not know how to come out of it, it is actually a problem that will consume you and never let you flourish in your field.
The notion of directing a film is the invention of critics - the whole eloquence of cinema is achieved in the editing room.
Orson says that directing a film is never an easy process. It takes a whole amount of effort to create a movie. When a movie is directed, it is bound to get the critics of the people who will end up editing the movie.
Few more Orson Welles Quotes...
I started at the top and worked my way down.
Orson Welles explains his life struggle. His life was not easy, but yet he struggled and reached the top of his career. Working each day and night has made him a successful person.
I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time.
Orson Welles explains the quote very well. He tries to tell the portrait of an artist who always comes out of life and experiences life in its entirety. An artist has the power to mould the character so that he can touch the lives of the people.
When people accept breaking the law as normal, something happens to the whole society.
Society becomes a state of lawlessness when the citizens of a country keep on breaking its rules. If the people often break the rules, then there will be a disturbance in the society, and no law-abiding citizens will be there in the society.
When you are down and out something always turns up - and it is usually the noses of your friends.
Orson Welles tells the importance of friends in his life. Sometimes when there is a point in life when nothing seems to be clear in a picture, the friends have a deep role here, and they can make the mood of a person and can give him a helping hand so that he can come out of his situation.
A good artist should be isolated. If he isn't isolated, something is wrong.
Orson Welles was a magnificent artist. He says that a good artist must be isolated so that he can develop his acting skills. If he is not isolated, then he cannot grow himself in an environment.
Nobody who takes on anything big and tough can afford to be modest.
In life, a person must dream big so that he can achieve more in his life, and nobody should think small at all, but rather a person must think big and tough so that he can pursue his dreams.
Everybody denies I am a genius - but nobody ever called me one!
Orson Welles was a great personality. He was the most extraordinary personality who had a good command over his field and had gathered huge recognition. He sees that everybody denied that he was a genius but what nobody called him is genius. This is what hurts him the most.
Good evening, ladies and gentleman. My name is Orson Welles. I am an actor. I am a writer. I am a producer. I am a director. I am a magician. I appear onstage and on the radio. Why are there so many of me and so few of you?
Through this quote, Orson tries to tell the people that he can be an actor, writer-producer-director, and magician. He has become so famous that he is standing before everyone and explaining these characters of his life. He has appeared on stage and on the radio as well. He tells people that he has so many life roles and is a successful man in his field. He pressurises people to think in their minds why they lack in their field. They must also follow the Orson Welles path so that they can become famous like him.
