Derek Luke Quotes

What people tell me they take away from my books is that they can shape their lives, they can achieve their own dreams. And certainly that's what I want them to take away.

I went into the 'Idol' audition with no expectations; that's just the kind of person I am. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't hurt so badly, you know? But once I made it past the first round, and the second, and third - I started to realize, 'Maybe my goals and dreams really are attainable.'

Mediocrity scares me. It's the fear of not being as good as you want to be. If you give over to that fear, it will sabotage you. As much as I can, I try to use that fear to guide me.

I don't see how people are comfortable with seeing other people be great. You can be happy for anybody, but what is your excuse to not want to be great? These people are great because they just say, 'I'ma do that,' and they do it. That's it. There's no scientifical process.

'Postcards' was just a way of slapping myself in the face and saying, 'You can do anything! Just go for it!'

I feel honored to be an example for others. It makes it feel worthwhile to have overcome all the challenges I have encountered so I can help others to dream and also fulfill their dreams.

I'm thinking of slowing down on modeling and branching out to other things. I want to pursue some new and old dreams and start making them happen.

I started studying at 26. Before that, I never thought of acting as something that I would ever try.

I looked for acting classes in Paris just to do something different than modeling. And then one day I just thought, 'Okay, that's enough, I have to start doing something.' I went to the acting agency and I just told them I wanted to act and asked them if they would give me a chance, and they did.

I'm inspired by challenges. My life was always like this.

Most of the time, I do what I'm offered, but after I worked for it. I think I try much harder for the things that scare me and inspire me. The things that scare and inspire you are things that are different from what you did before.

Years ago I met Richard Burton in Port Talbot, my home town, and afterwards he passed in his car with his wife, and I thought, 'I want to get out and become like him'. Not because of Wales, because I love Wales, but because I was so limited as a child at school and so bereft and lonely, and I thought becoming an actor would do that.

I think it's important to move people beyond just dreaming into doing. They have to be able to see that you are just like them, and you made it.

'Field of Dreams' made me realize that I wanted to live my dreams, to risk things for what I felt and what I dreamt of.

I always put my fantasies in the realm of goals.

I never expected to become an actor at all. You can do anything you put your mind to it!

You can become whoever you want to be. You can do what you want to do.

I left my apartment in London and I sold everything. I literally had $1000 and a suitcase when I got on the plane. The next day I enrolled in my first acting class. We had some great people, Jim Carrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Molly Ringwald. It was very inspirational.

Maybe if Graziano make another work or another sport I wouldn't have had this passion to be a rider.

I was just a small boy from Mississippi, and now little kids are going to identify with me through this game.

Success begins at that magical moment when you declare to yourself, your friends, and the universe that you believe you can do something different.

When you've got something to prove, there's nothing greater than a challenge.

I like the idea of being so passionate about everything I do and the fact that I might wake up tomorrow and say 'I want to be a chef,' and just pour myself into that.

We live in a culture that relishes tearing others down. It's ultimately more fulfilling, though, to help people reach their goals. Instead of feeling jealous, remember: If God did it for them, He can do it for you.

When it comes down to it, at the end of the day, I need more out of my life and I need to push myself harder. And if at the end of the day I don't have it, then I don't have it, but at least I'm going to put myself out there. If I fail, I'm going to fail terrifically.