Miranda Otto Quotes

I feel that the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life is to be associated with UNICEF.

I am an actress, I earn money, I am well-known. I don't think it is altruism to become engaged in humanitarian work. It's the least one can do.

I had parents who believed I could do anything - and I know how that made me feel. I think both my parents, having careers in the medical profession, feel they are helping people on a daily basis, and that was inculcated in me as a value. I had to struggle with giving up the idea of becoming a doctor myself.

In contemplating what to do with my life, I felt like I had two possible paths: one was to move to New York and work in a design house; the other was to move to Africa and deliver food aid. That's when the idea of the FEED bag came to me. It's for those who want to put their consumer dollars to good use.

I want to be more than just an artist and be a people's person and do a lot of stuff for people.

Know the difference between success and fame. Success is Mother Teresa. Fame is Madonna.

Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?

Years of standing in the limelight portraying other people for large amounts of money does not usually lead to a high degree of self-examination, let alone self-criticism.

I'm consistently asked how I keep a foot in two contrasting worlds - one in the entertainment industry, predicated on wealth and indulgence, and the other in humanitarian work. To me, it's less of a question of how can you do this, and more a question of how can you not?

I have been into social work since 45 years, and at an average, every day for one or two hours, I have been engaging in social discourses. It is not a small thing.

I guess my voice is more recognizable than I know!

I'm kind of like both of them: My mother grew up wanting to save the world, and my father grew up wanting to rule the world.

If you've made enough money where you're not worried about the rent or survival, you start asking yourself why you're on this planet. Your point is to do the most good you can before you die - well, I could do more good if I didn't die.

I am not about glamour, fame and all that comes with it, so now that people know me so much, I think I have a responsibility to give them back and set a good example.

We cannot stay enveloped in our own reality and turn a blind eye to the plight of others.

A lot of people want to go out there, help people, and save the world. Sadly, half the time they can't even help themselves.

I knew so many people were coming up to me because they knew who I was, not because they were fans of my music. That bothered me because I don't want to be a celebrity; I want to be an artist.

I'm not under any illusion that I'm an A-lister; I don't think I'm even on the alphabet scale. But I'm in people's houses every day - I'm there when they wake up and there when they go to bed. So people think they know who I am. And, to a certain extent, they do.

Real change comes from real individuals and real experiences.

I've had a lot of accolades throughout my career, but that hasn't really changed me. I know that comes with the winning.

I want to be helpful and give back to the society when I die. There are so many people in this world who are not able to see God's beautiful creations or enjoy this life. If my eyes or other organs can help even one individual, I will be happy that my life has been of use.

I don't see myself only as a member of the New Orleans community. I see myself as a part of the human community. I see myself as a part of the community that's trying to put things in the world that add value to people's lives.

To be able to walk down the street and have people stop you, not just because they recognize you, but because you somehow personally touched them, it's amazing.

I always wanted to work in charitable things, community outreach, etc.

I wish people would go and just read about this man's life - about David Koch's life... Of the literally hundreds of millions of dollars that he has given to a variety of different hospitals.