Edward Norton Quotes

If the opportunities are not being presented to me, I'm going to take the reins and do it. Brit Marling was not waiting for the phone to ring. The great roles are not there to be had. If you have an idea, do it.

If you're always waiting for a producer to hire you... your chances are really, really small. I've been knocking on doors and asking for a job for many years, and my career really changed when I decided to create my own material.

I often feel like saying, when I hear the question 'People aren't ready,' that it's like telling a person who is trying to swim, 'Don't jump in that water until you learn how to swim.' When actually you will never learn how to swim until you get in the water. And I think people have to have an opportunity to develop themselves and govern themselves.

If you have a book to write, write it. If you want to record an album, record it. No need to wait for someone in a cubicle halfway across the country to decide if you're worthy.

When people say to me: "Oh don't worry, if one door closes another one opens..." If one door closes for me, go through the window - I'm not interested in waiting around for people to give me opportunities. I try and make things happen and if I am given opportunities I take them and work harder.

My father instilled in me that if you don't see things happening the way you want them to, you get out there and make them happen.

The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can't find them, make them.

The ultimate thing is creating your own stuff and making projects for yourself. That's what Seth Rogen does. He's writing and producing a lot of the movies that he's the lead in.

I'm a great believer in not sitting around waiting for the right part to come around, but jumping in and building it for yourself.

I definitely feel like I'm at that point where it's nice to not have to sit at home and wait to be invited to the party, but to be creating work for yourself.

Don't hope someone gives you an opportunity: create one for yourself.

Sometimes you have to create your own chance.

Don't sit around and wait for the opportunities to come. You have to get up and make those opportunities come.

Become the director, producer, choreographer of your own story

You have to constantly be doing something and not just wait for someone to call you with an opportunity, you have to develop your own projects.

If you have an idea that's going to make a big difference to people's lives, and other people are not doing it, you know, just say "screw it," do it and get on with it, and give it a go.

I think I've always been a follow-the-leader with my career, or maybe waiting for things to happen. Now I'm like, I'm OK-I know the direction, whoever's on board can go with me.

Be willing to work for nothing in things you think are stupid. Make work for yourself. Make your own luck. Don't complain. Hopefully, the work will find you if you are ready.

I have to create opportunities for myself. But the thing I really have learned is that you gain nothing from sitting around waiting for the phone to ring - you have to do it for yourself.

I'm going to create my own opportunities. If I can't find the roles I want, I'll just make them.

I'm always looking for opportunities, even when they're not offered to me. I will have no hesitation to pick up the phone and call a director or call a writer.

The people who are going to be succeeding are not going to be waiting around for anyone's permission.

I create opportunities.

What I wanted to hear didn't exist, so it was necessary for me to go out and create it.

I can't tell you how freeing it is to have my own label. For the first time in my career, I have total control.