--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ewan McGregor and I said this to each…" description: "\"Ewan McGregor and I said this to each other after we saw The Ghost Writer. Every time Roman Polanski did a \"No, no, no!,\" he was right. It was really a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/olivia-williams-10935_attitude_ewan-mcgregor-and-i-said-this-to-each-ot_522394.jpg" --- # Ewan McGregor and I said this to each other after we saw… ![“Ewan McGregor and I said this to each other after we saw The Ghost Writer. Every time Roman Polanski did a "No, no, no!," he was right. It was really as if a sculptor was asked to sculpt the embodiment of despair - that was the attitude he would strike. But as with every sort of inspiring teacher…” quote by Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/olivia-williams-10935_attitude_ewan-mcgregor-and-i-said-this-to-each-ot_522394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/olivia-williams-10935_attitude_ewan-mcgregor-and-i-said-this-to-each-ot_522394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/olivia-williams-10935_attitude_ewan-mcgregor-and-i-said-this-to-each-ot_522394.jpg) > “Ewan McGregor and I said this to each other after we saw The Ghost Writer. Every time Roman Polanski did a "No, no, no!," he was right. It was really as if a sculptor was asked to sculpt the embodiment of despair - that was the attitude he would strike. But as with every sort of inspiring teacher you ever had who was strict and scary, when you get it right, the sun comes out, and it's worth it.” [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strict, demanding mentors can be harsh yet ultimately illuminate truth, rewarding perseverance. **In simple terms:** Harsh teachers can lead to breakthroughs. Key Takeaway Embrace tough guidance for growth. Themes mentorship perseverance artistic vision Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - film criticism - personal development - artistic collaboration - educational settings Key Concepts creative discipline learning through challenge Questions to Reflect On - When has a strict mentor helped you? - How do you balance rigor with support? A Different Perspective Extreme pressure may cause burnout or fear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Ghost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghost/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A car designer is really a sculptor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bangle/a-car-designer-is-really-a-sculptor/) [Chris Bangle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bangle/) > [Working with Roman Polanski is funny. It's like anything in life - someone warns you that something's going to be amazing or difficult or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/working-with-roman-polanski-is-funny-it-s-like-anything-in-life/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [My analysis of the situation was that Roman Polanski wasn't trying to break us down or get a performance out of us by destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/my-analysis-of-the-situation-was-that-roman-polanski-wasn-t-trying-to/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Usually the casting process is lengthy and humiliating, but in this instance, The Ghost Writer, it was just too easy. I was sitting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/usually-the-casting-process-is-lengthy-and-humiliating-but-in-this/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Roman Polanski actually said as much to me once. He had his head in his hands, and I said, "Roman, I've got to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/roman-polanski-actually-said-as-much-to-me-once-he-had-his-head-in/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [When Roman Polanski did give you a "Great, great, great!" you were just like, "Thank you, Lord, for this magical moment."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/when-roman-polanski-did-give-you-a-great-great-great-you-were-just/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I thought "I've coped with some crazy situations, and I can do this." But working with Roman Polanski is so different from the fashionable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-thought-i-ve-coped-with-some-crazy-situations-and-i-can-do-this-but/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Ostwald was a great protagonist and an inspiring teacher. He had the gift of saying the right thing in the right way. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilder-dwight-bancroft/ostwald-was-a-great-protagonist-and-an-inspiring-teacher-he-had-the/) Wilder Dwight Bancroft > [Doing retreats, getting personal teachings from time to time from inspiring teachers, all of this helps to recharge our batteries. Then we get inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/doing-retreats-getting-personal-teachings-from-time-to-time-from/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [I went to what can only be described as a slum school in Salford - rough and full of trainee punks - but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/i-went-to-what-can-only-be-described-as-a-slum-school-in-salford/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) > [I have come across both inspiring teachers of history and deplorable ones over the years, so one cannot generalise, except perhaps to observe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-beevor/i-have-come-across-both-inspiring-teachers-of-history-and-deplorable/) [Antony Beevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-beevor/) > [That's one of the difficult things of being an actor that I'm still not used to. You have to go, you have to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/that-s-one-of-the-difficult-things-of-being-an-actor-that-i-m-still/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [Someone like Roman Polanski comes with a lifetime of achievement, cinematically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/someone-like-roman-polanski-comes-with-a-lifetime-of-achievement/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [It's all right with me if Roman Polanski is freed by the Swiss authorities who have detained him at the request of the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/it-s-all-right-with-me-if-roman-polanski-is-freed-by-the-swiss/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [I think if Roman Polanski had asked me to do the phone book, I would have said, 'Yes.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-think-if-roman-polanski-had-asked-me-to-do-the-phone-book-i-would/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) ## More by Olivia Williams > [I am a pathetic and gushing Nick Hornby fan, and I wanted to be in High Fidelity, and I wanted to be in About…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-am-a-pathetic-and-gushing-nick-hornby-fan-and-i-wanted-to-be-in/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [My very first friend was my stand-in, who's a very dear friend to this day, and she kind of saved my ass. She told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/my-very-first-friend-was-my-stand-in-who-s-a-very-dear-friend-to-this/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [It was as big as a Beatles concert, I guess. Friends was unbelievably popular in Britain, and it was incredibly exciting. I had never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/it-was-as-big-as-a-beatles-concert-i-guess-friends-was-unbelievably/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I guess maybe I was hired to play in the Doll House because of my dinner scene in The Sixth Sense, which has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-guess-maybe-i-was-hired-to-play-in-the-doll-house-because-of-my/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [There are movies where I've walked onto the set and felt, "This is home," and I'm confident in myself and my work, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/there-are-movies-where-i-ve-walked-onto-the-set-and-felt-this-is-home/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I love the ups and downs and the eccentricities of my career. The worst movies have produced some of the best friendships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-love-the-ups-and-downs-and-the-eccentricities-of-my-career-the/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [For me, selfishly, The Postman didn't kill my career. It meant I didn't shoot straight and painfully into the limelight, but Rushmore came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/for-me-selfishly-the-postman-didn-t-kill-my-career-it-meant-i-didn-t/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [As an actor, you're just taking temperature. I am anyway, all the time, and responding appropriately. I was again cast very last-minute for Rushmore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/as-an-actor-you-re-just-taking-temperature-i-am-anyway-all-the-time/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [My parents' long and happy marriage was a great ideal to live up to, but a tough one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/my-parents-long-and-happy-marriage-was-a-great-ideal-to-live-up-to/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Ewan McGregor is a very genial and entertaining man, and Pierce Brosnan is possibly the nicest man in the world. Actually, it was quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/ewan-mcgregor-is-a-very-genial-and-entertaining-man-and-pierce/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [The excruciating moments of drama are when people are allowed to show or say what they feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/the-excruciating-moments-of-drama-are-when-people-are-allowed-to-show/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I really needed to have something in my life, because I realized there were other things more important than my career. So I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-really-needed-to-have-something-in-my-life-because-i-realized-there/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [My parents taught me everything and set me up for life. I owe to them all the things I'm passionate about: music, art, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/my-parents-taught-me-everything-and-set-me-up-for-life-i-owe-to-them/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Carey Mulligan is completely self-possessed. She knows what she's doing, and again, quite like the big-hitters I was talking about, my job was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/carey-mulligan-is-completely-self-possessed-she-knows-what-she-s/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I loved Rushmore. I loved the script. I mean, that is what drew me to it, just the actual piece of literature the script…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-loved-rushmore-i-loved-the-script-i-mean-that-is-what-drew-me-to-it/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) [Explore all 62 Olivia Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ewan McGregor and I said this to each other after we saw The Ghost Writer. Every time Roman Polanski did a \"No, no, no!,\" he was right. It was really as if a sculptor was asked to sculpt the embodiment of despair - that was the attitude he would strike. 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