--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I played Othello, but I didn't sit around…" description: "\"I played Othello, but I didn't sit around thinking how Laurence Olivier did it when he played it. That wouldn't do me any good.\" — Denzel Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/denzel-washington-1345_around_i-played-othello-but-i-didn-t-sit-around_858483.jpg" --- # I played Othello, but I didn't sit around thinking how… ![“I played Othello, but I didn't sit around thinking how Laurence Olivier did it when he played it. That wouldn't do me any good.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/denzel-washington-1345_around_i-played-othello-but-i-didn-t-sit-around_858483.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/denzel-washington-1345_around_i-played-othello-but-i-didn-t-sit-around_858483.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/denzel-washington-1345_around_i-played-othello-but-i-didn-t-sit-around_858483.jpg) > “I played Othello, but I didn't sit around thinking how Laurence Olivier did it when he played it. That wouldn't do me any good.” [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a role requires active practice, not passive observation of others' performances. **In simple terms:** Practice beats watching others. Key Takeaway Engage directly, not just observe. Themes learning performance practice Mood focused determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - acting rehearsal - sports training - musical performance - public speaking Key Concepts active learning skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply active practice in your field? - What limits arise from over‑reliance on observation? A Different Perspective Passive observation may lead to imitation without personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laurence-olivier-505057/) [Olivier Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olivier-did-825705/) [Othello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/othello/) [Othello Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/othello-didn-359529/) [Played Othello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-othello-825704/) [Sit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I played Othello at RADA - blacked up. I didn't know it was going to be offensive now!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-spall/i-played-othello-at-rada-blacked-up-i-didn-t-know-it-was-going-to-be/) [Timothy Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-spall/) > [When I first played Othello, a reviewer absolutely slaughtered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/when-i-first-played-othello-a-reviewer-absolutely-slaughtered-me/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [I don't care more about '13' because it's in the Olivier than I did about 'Cock' in a 100-seat studio. They both matter because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/i-don-t-care-more-about-13-because-it-s-in-the-olivier-than-i-did/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [Even in the days when they did Othello, you didn't necessarily have to be black to play Othello. You wore the makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-farr/even-in-the-days-when-they-did-othello-you-didn-t-necessarily-have-to/) [Jamie Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-farr/) > ['Hamlet' was the first movie I saw. In 1948, my mother said, 'I'm going to take you to see 'Hamlet' with Laurence Olivier.' She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/hamlet-was-the-first-movie-i-saw-in-1948-my-mother-said-i-m-going-to/) [Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/) > [I always loved how people like Jon Voight and Laurence Olivier shocked you every time they came on-screen. They were so different each time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/i-always-loved-how-people-like-jon-voight-and-laurence-olivier/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [I grew up with the great Sir Laurence Olivier, and I think it's fair to say that a lot of actors of my age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holm/i-grew-up-with-the-great-sir-laurence-olivier-and-i-think-it-s-fair/) [Ian Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holm/) > [I would have liked Sir Laurence Olivier to ask me to go to the Old Vic and let me play all the roles Judi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-reid/i-would-have-liked-sir-laurence-olivier-to-ask-me-to-go-to-the-old/) [Anne Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-reid/) > [I really think the more talent people have, the more polite they are: Laurence Olivier and Alec Guinness always arrived on time and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-armstrong-jones/i-really-think-the-more-talent-people-have-the-more-polite-they-are/) [Antony Armstrong-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-armstrong-jones/) > [To have a childhood surrounded by people like Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh sounds glitzy, but for years I wanted to repress it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/to-have-a-childhood-surrounded-by-people-like-sir-laurence-olivier/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [I started being interested in acting when I heard the voices of Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir John Gielgud and Sir Alec Guinness. Ive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/i-started-being-interested-in-acting-when-i-heard-the-voices-of-sir/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [Yes, it's true, I've been called the Laurence Olivier of spoofs. I guess that would make Laurence Olivier the Leslie Nielsen of Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/yes-it-s-true-i-ve-been-called-the-laurence-olivier-of-spoofs-i-guess/) [Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/) > [On my wall, along with my favorite football players and baseball players, I had Marlon Brando and Sir Laurence Olivier. These were childhood idols.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/on-my-wall-along-with-my-favorite-football-players-and-baseball/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [“Peter Brook’s production with Laurence Olivier as Titus was one of the great theatrical experiences of the 1950s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenji-yoshino/peter-brook-s-production-with-laurence-olivier-as-titus-was-one-of/) [Kenji Yoshino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenji-yoshino/) > [But as I grew up as a child, falling in love with the theater and Shakespeare, my heroes were Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/but-as-i-grew-up-as-a-child-falling-in-love-with-the-theater-and/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) ## More by Denzel Washington > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [My father was a minister for 50 years with Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. We prayed about everything, every day, then he always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/my-father-was-a-minister-for-50-years-with-pentecostal-church-of-god/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Family is life; acting is making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/talent-comes-from-god-if-you-have-been-given-some-then-value-it/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [ I'll be working with Ridley's \[Scott\] brother, Tony, again, someone who needless to say we've had a great amount of success together. I trust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ll-be-working-with-ridley-s-scott-brother-tony-again-someone-who/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-found-that-nothing-in-life-is-worthwhile-unless-you-take-risks/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I and haven't been unemployed for 20 years. I'm an exception to the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-and-haven-t-been-unemployed-for-20-years-i-m-an-exception-to-the/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-m-very-proud-to-be-black-but-black-is-not-all-i-am-that-s-my/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [It's strictly business. If I loan you $25 million, I want my money back. I don't want to hear about the social impact. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/it-s-strictly-business-if-i-loan-you-25-million-i-want-my-money-back/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-have-an-enemy-then-learn-and-know-your-enemy-don-t-just-be-mad/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [“He taught us that everyone has a good story and the more of others you understand, the better your grasp of human nature, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/he-taught-us-that-everyone-has-a-good-story-and-the-more-of-others/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Religion to me is when man gets ahold of spirituality: "My god is right, yours is wrong." 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