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

Put God first in everything you do ... Everything that I have is by the grace of God, understand that. It's a gift ... I didn't always stick with Him, but He stuck with me.

Denzel Washington

sticks grace firsts

Why do we close our eyes when we pray, cry, kiss, or dream? Because the most beautiful things in life are not seen but felt by the heart.

Denzel Washington

dream heart beautiful

Goals on the road to achievement cannot be achieved without discipline and consistency.

Denzel Washington

achievement discipline goal

Don't aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.

Denzel Washington

aspire making-a-difference differences

The chances you take… the people you meet… the people you love...the faith that you have - that’s what’s going to define your life.

Denzel Washington

define-you chance people

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" (23).

Denzel Washington

the-end-of-the-day accomplishment done

Be careful what you ask for because when you pray for rain, you have to deal with the mud as well.

Denzel Washington

mud praying rain

I pray that you all put your shoes way under the bed at night so that you gotta get on your knees in the morning to find them. And while you're down there thank God for grace and mercy and understanding. We all fall short of the glory, we all got plenty.

Denzel Washington

morning night fall

Nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.

Denzel Washington

inspiring graduation fall

Fall forward. Here's what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out 2,600 times in his career - the most in the history of baseball. But you don't hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs. Fall forward. Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn't either - because number 1,001 was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.

Denzel Washington

baseball running fall

Do what you have to do, to do what you want to do.

Denzel Washington

what-you-want want success

In marriage, if you're a guy, learn two phrases. One is "yes, dear" and the other is "honey, you're right." Be patient. Be good friends first. And stick together. You gotta work at it. It's not all a honeymoon, it's not all flowers and roses, but if you're friends and partners and committed, you'll be okay. And everybody's got advice for you - don't listen.

Denzel Washington

good-friend flower two

If you don't fail, you're not even trying.

Denzel Washington

failing ifs trying

To protect the sheep, you gotta catch the wolf. And it takes a wolf to catch a wolf, you understand?

Denzel Washington

protect sheep

Just stick with your kids. There's no set of rules on how to be a parent. No handbook. Just hang around your kids and ask them a lot of questions. You have to stay involved in your children's lives and monitor everything they're doing whether they like it or not. You're not in the job of making them like it. You're there to protect them in a world that can be troubling.

Denzel Washington

jobs kids children

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

proof desire heart

You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse. ... Now, I've been blessed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in my life. I can't take it with me, and neither can you. It's not how much you have but what you do with what you have.

Denzel Washington

u-haul dollars blessed

Dreams without goals, are just dreams and they ultimately fuel disappointment.

Denzel Washington

disappointment goal dream

I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic make-up, but it's not all of who I am nor is it the basis from which I answer every question.

Denzel Washington

faith success life

A man once told me that you step out of your door in the morning, and you are already in trouble. The only question is are you on top of that trouble or not?

Denzel Washington

blue-dress morning men