Jeremy Irons Quotes

The exposed nature of life in the public square affects leaders' attitudes toward risk - and failure.

When you put yourself out into the world and say, 'Hey, look at me,' you're going to get criticized.

We feel a lot of pressure about looking silly or appearing weak, whatever that means, or being a failure. You have to keep in your head: what's the worst that can happen?

I left it for seven years before going back on stage. I know now not to leave it so long.

Politicians dare to fail publicly.

People don't step outside themselves and make the film they want to make, because they're afraid of the reaction. But once you get that reaction and have lived through it, there's nothing they can do to get you down.

Being brave is what led to three rejections from Yale Law School before being accepted. It led to losing my 2010 race for U.S. Congress, and another failed bid for public office in 2013, this time for public advocate of New York City.

When something goes wrong in your life, it doesn't finish you, and you should become braver, knowing that you've got to go for things in life and don't regret because you didn't try to be as good as you might be.

I'm OK with failing. You've got to fail in life in order to get better. I'm going to be fine.

I don't care about what people think about me that don't know me. But the one thing that bothers me of all the places is the general perception was that I was a failure at USC as a head coach.

I've never really had the confidence to sing in front of people; then, I got into acting.

People are afraid of trying something new, of failing even before they start. My point is, what is the worst that can happen? You will fail and friends who warned you will say 'I told you so!' So you made a mistake - and will hopefully make many more. But hey! The real tragedy is not the mistake you make, but not learning from it.

If you've been hit, if you've been put down, if you've lost, that next time you come out, you have to make a testament: you have to make a demonstration, a showing, that it's not going to happen again.

I don't have any fear of failure whatsoever. I used to, and I told myself I wouldn't allow myself to anymore.

Success is a lousy teacher, but failure is a friend, philosopher, and guide.

Failure gets a bad rap, but I'd like to change that. Failure is necessary. Let it in. Chew it up, and use it as fuel for your soul.

There's a lot of freedom in failure, and I can see that now.

I don't mind if I fail or if I succeed. No matter what, I want to look back with no regrets.

I remember when I told my mom that I wanted to come out, and my mom was a little hesitant. She was saying, 'Are you sure? Do you think that might affect your scores?' or, 'Is it something that you think that you need to do?' And I told her, 'I don't care. It's important to me.'

I think about all of the freaking talent shows I've tried out for in my life, and I'm so glad I didn't make any of them.

The media attention - the negative, in particular - it makes you a different person.

Even when you lose, you get better. Sometimes when you lose, you win.

I thought you would have to be insane to go into politics.

I had to find the courage to share not only myself but my art with the world. I faced fear, and I went for it. I wasn't a failure, and I'm very proud of myself.

I believe passion is the sword of love that pierces through the wall of fears that hold us back.