As an actor, you're a color of paint on someone else's palette. But as a director, it's your canvas and you make the painting you want to make. Denzel Washington More Quotes by Denzel Washington More Quotes From Denzel Washington Cats are too independent. They piss me off. They play when they want, and then they turn their back on you. Dogs, you throw the ball, and they bring it back, tongue hanging out, tail wagging. Cats are like "Not right now, too busy." Definitely a dog man. Except when it comes to cleaning up after them! Cats win that! Denzel Washington independent cat dog I don't look back, no. Maybe when I'm older; people say, 'What's your favorite film?' I say, 'My next one.' I'm not interested in sitting around; I just don't, never have. Denzel Washington sitting people looks Religion to me is when man gets ahold of spirituality: "My god is right, yours is wrong." Religion to me is the human condition. "If you're a Muslim, you can't be a Christian." That to me is religion. Denzel Washington spirituality christian men Fundamentally, the most important thing is to get the film made for me and to get as many people to see it as possible. And if I help that, then - I know I help that, let's put it that way. I do know that I help that. It is called show business. Denzel Washington important people way I don't feel pressure, because I do what I want to do. I don't feel pressure at all. I've never done any movies because I thought this was what somebody wanted me to do. I'm a bit more, for lack of a better word, selfish than that. But like I say in the movie, you do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do. Denzel Washington selfish done want I think we're fascinated by gangsters and that whole lifestyle and crossing the line. We get sort of stuck in our normal lives, if you will, and you want to be bigger than life and I think people somehow live through these sorts of characters. Denzel Washington character people thinking We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire. Denzel Washington retiring great-things acting I always say the time to worry about flying is when you're on the ground. If you don't trust the captain, don't go. Denzel Washington captains flying worry When you trust the director you want to trust his or her choices. I don't want to say, 'No, I don't like this girl or that guy," when the director really loves them. No, you want to go with what the director likes. Denzel Washington guy girl choices I try not to think about that [getting Oscar] ahead of time. You just try to do the best work you can, and then you get the movie out there, and we've been hearing good things. But you never know, you don't want to get too high, and you don't want to get too low. Denzel Washington want trying thinking If you take the time and put in the effort to write your own material and absolutely refuse to be denied the right to make your film it is difficult whatever colour you are. Denzel Washington effort film writing I'm not afraid to upset people. But I am not as upset because I understand what I'm up against. Denzel Washington not-afraid upset people Years ago, even prior to 9/11, I did a movie called "The Siege." I did a lot of research with the FBI and the CIA. And I was amazed at that time (I guess we might all know it now) how little information they shared with each other. So after that, I'm not surprised by anything. Denzel Washington research littles years But whats the sense in hate? Forgiven. Forgive what hes done. Its not going to change nothing. Denzel Washington us In any profession it gets to be a grind. Denzel Washington gets any profession grind I know you and your folks can come down here from God knows where and be about as black as the ace of spade, and as soon as you get here you start acting White. Treating us like we're your doormats. Denzel Washington Well, there's a saying when the devil ignores you, then you know you're doing something wrong, you know, the devil goes,' Oh, no, leave him alone, he's my favorite. Don't bother him.' Conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe it's because you're trying to do something right. And for whatever reason, the devil got a hold of that circumstance that night. Denzel Washington Fortunately, there were people there, not just me, but others in the gap, tyler Perry came right immediately, right over there with me. Denzel Washington I don’t call myself a director, i’m still learning. Denzel Washington Shoot, I'd direct this! Denzel Washington