--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm very pragmatic in that I know there…" description: "\"I'm very pragmatic in that I know there are very few greats in anything. I got lucky just to have gotten two of the real great filmmakers very early on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/malcolm-mcdowell-15560_cinema_i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there_2651890.jpg" --- # I'm very pragmatic in that I know there are very few… ![“I'm very pragmatic in that I know there are very few greats in anything. I got lucky just to have gotten two of the real great filmmakers very early on. Better to have had them than to not have had them. I've been really fortunate. That's the key relationship on a movie: the director and the…” quote by Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/malcolm-mcdowell-15560_cinema_i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there_2651890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/malcolm-mcdowell-15560_cinema_i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there_2651890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/malcolm-mcdowell-15560_cinema_i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there_2651890.jpg) > “I'm very pragmatic in that I know there are very few greats in anything. I got lucky just to have gotten two of the real great filmmakers very early on. Better to have had them than to not have had them. I've been really fortunate. That's the key relationship on a movie: the director and the actor. Of course, you can't compare the experiences. When you're in your early 20s, you're a very different person. It was a very exciting time, and my whole world was changing. Now I'm looking back, and hoping I can still offer something. Still do good work.” [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great collaborations arise when a director and actor connect, but early career stages differ from later ones. **In simple terms:** Creative partnerships thrive on mutual respect and timing. Key Takeaway Nurture collaborative relationships early. Themes art collaboration career growth experience Mood nostalgic optimistic Type professional reflective When to use this quote - film sets - theatre productions - career retrospectives Key Concepts creative synergy mentor‑mentee dynamics industry evolution Questions to Reflect On - How have your collaborations shaped your work? - What can you offer emerging artists now? A Different Perspective Early success may set unrealistic expectations later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Compare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compare/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-person/) [Director Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-actor/) [Early 20s](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-20s/) [Exciting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exciting/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Filmmakers Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmakers-early-2356146/) [Good work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-work/) [Great film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-film/) [Great Filmmakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-filmmakers-626667/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-director/) [Pragmatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pragmatic/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I just want to keep doing things completely different from the other. I just want to keep working with great people, great filmmakers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-egan/i-just-want-to-keep-doing-things-completely-different-from-the-other/) [Christopher Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-egan/) > [The filmmakers are very much in their own kind of bubble. It was kind of a revelation to me and I realized why so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-garris/the-filmmakers-are-very-much-in-their-own-kind-of-bubble-it-was-kind/) [Mick Garris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-garris/) > [I've always felt really lucky to get to work with really great filmmakers. For me, the whole objective is just to hopefully be of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/i-ve-always-felt-really-lucky-to-get-to-work-with-really-great/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [What I want to do is make films that astonish people, that astound people, and I hope you want to do that too. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/what-i-want-to-do-is-make-films-that-astonish-people-that-astound/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Look at the people who are coming to television Ridley Scott, Ang Lee or Guillermo del Toro - all these great filmmakers - actively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/look-at-the-people-who-are-coming-to-television-ridley-scott-ang-lee/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I grew up as a reader as well as a movie-lover, so many of the novelists I admired - and so many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/i-grew-up-as-a-reader-as-well-as-a-movie-lover-so-many-of-the/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [I think great filmmakers will always talk in terms of storytelling. These guys were always about the story. That is how I love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-think-great-filmmakers-will-always-talk-in-terms-of-storytelling/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [I just like good stories. I like really interesting scripts, I love really great filmmakers. And I'm open to all genres and all stories.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-just-like-good-stories-i-like-really-interesting-scripts-i-love/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I'm very happy to be involved with great filmmakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-brolin/i-m-very-happy-to-be-involved-with-great-filmmakers/) [Josh Brolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-brolin/) > [Most great filmmakers are good at place. Like how people say, like, "The city itself is a character in the movie," you know? I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/most-great-filmmakers-are-good-at-place-like-how-people-say-like-the/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [There's so many things I want to do. I want to work with great filmmakers, great actors, great scripts. And there's no reason for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobey-maguire/there-s-so-many-things-i-want-to-do-i-want-to-work-with-great/) [Tobey Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobey-maguire/) > [I want to work with great filmmakers and great actors and get better as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-cooper/i-want-to-work-with-great-filmmakers-and-great-actors-and-get-better/) [Bradley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-cooper/) > [There are no great scripts - just great films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/there-are-no-great-scripts-just-great-films/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [I have always been saying that we are making a mockery of ourselves by sending such idiotic films to the Oscars. This is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyadarshan/i-have-always-been-saying-that-we-are-making-a-mockery-of-ourselves/) [Priyadarshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyadarshan/) > [Look, I'm going to take full advantage of this situation just because I love working with great filmmakers. But I've been around for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-brolin/look-i-m-going-to-take-full-advantage-of-this-situation-just-because/) [Josh Brolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-brolin/) ## More by Malcolm McDowell > [The thing is, I've never been a handsome leading-man type, so let's not kid ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/the-thing-is-i-ve-never-been-a-handsome-leading-man-type-so-let-s-not/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [The great thing about Burgess's work is the dichotomy of making the hero or anti-hero an immoral man. And that's what makes it interesting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/the-great-thing-about-burgess-s-work-is-the-dichotomy-of-making-the/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [I never do research unless it's extraordinary circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-never-do-research-unless-it-s-extraordinary-circumstances/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [An actor cannot be a censor. I'm there to interpret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/an-actor-cannot-be-a-censor-i-m-there-to-interpret/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [I'm not quite as buoyant as I was in my youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-m-not-quite-as-buoyant-as-i-was-in-my-youth/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [I never feel I repeat myself. I really go out of my way to amuse myself. I would be bored stiff. If I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-never-feel-i-repeat-myself-i-really-go-out-of-my-way-to-amuse/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [The villains that I play, I always think that they are grounded, wonderful people with enormous intellects who are very exciting to spend an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/the-villains-that-i-play-i-always-think-that-they-are-grounded/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [It's always a fascinating subject - a serial killer let loose on a small community. It always holds, it's always scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/it-s-always-a-fascinating-subject-a-serial-killer-let-loose-on-a/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [You know, I've had an incredible career and I'm blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/you-know-i-ve-had-an-incredible-career-and-i-m-blessed/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [Richard Lester is a wonderful director, a great comedy director, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/richard-lester-is-a-wonderful-director-a-great-comedy-director-of/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [I particularly love theater, I just love a challenge, and always have, and will do anything to make it interesting. I'll try anything, really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-particularly-love-theater-i-just-love-a-challenge-and-always-have/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [The most nurturing of directors can make you feel too comfortable, and you don't really push for that extra whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/the-most-nurturing-of-directors-can-make-you-feel-too-comfortable-and/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [Once you commit to something, you've got to commit the whole way. Try and make the best of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/once-you-commit-to-something-you-ve-got-to-commit-the-whole-way-try/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [I am a professional actor, and I don't go about moralizing about what the character does. Otherwise, seriously, why be an actor? You're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-am-a-professional-actor-and-i-don-t-go-about-moralizing-about-what/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [I just love a challenge, and always have, and will do anything to make it interesting. I'll try anything, really, as long as it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-just-love-a-challenge-and-always-have-and-will-do-anything-to-make/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) [Explore all 42 Malcolm McDowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm very pragmatic in that I know there are very few greats in anything. I got lucky just to have gotten two of the real great filmmakers very early on. Better to have had them than to not have had them. I've been really fortunate. That's the key relationship on a movie: the director and the actor. Of course, you can't compare the experiences. When you're in your early 20s, you're a very different person. It was a very exciting time, and my whole world was changing. Now I'm looking back, and hoping I can still offer something. Still do good work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm McDowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there-are-very-few-greats-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there-are-very-few-greats-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/malcolm-mcdowell-15560_cinema_i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there_2651890.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/malcolm-mcdowell-15560_cinema_i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there_2651890.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/malcolm-mcdowell-15560_cinema_i-m-very-pragmatic-in-that-i-know-there_2651890.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm very pragmatic in that I know there are very few greats in anything. 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