WIST Quotations

Welles, Orson -- “War of the Worlds,” Radio Play (31 Oct 1938)

Dave — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:39:36 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a grave announcement to make. Incredible as it may seem, strange beings who landed in New Jersey tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from Mars.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor
“War of the Worlds,” Radio Play (31 Oct 1938)

From the original story by H.G. Wells (1898).

Welles, Orson -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor
(Attributed)

Welles, Orson -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Living in the lap of luxury isn’t bad, except you never know when luxury is going to stand up.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor
(Attributed)

Welles, Orson -- The Third Man

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed — they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce …? The cuckoo clock.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor
The Third Man

Welles, Orson -- Comment to Henry Jaglom

Dave — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:08:29 +0000

The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor
Comment to Henry Jaglom

Quoted by Jaglom in his essay "The Independent Filmmaker" in Jason E. Quire, ed. The Movie Business Book (1992). See here for more information. Sometimes paraphrased in reverse ("The absence of limitations is the enemy of art").

Welles, Orson -- In Someone to Love, film (1987) [written and directed by Henry Jaglom]

Dave — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 21:34:22 +0000

We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor
In Someone to Love, film (1987) [written and directed by Henry Jaglom]

Ad libbed by Welles, in his last film appearance.

Welles, Orson -- In the New York Herald Tribune (12 Oct 1956)

Dave — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 19:25:07 +0000

I hate television. I hate it as much as peanuts. But I can’t stop eating peanuts.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor
In the New York Herald Tribune (12 Oct 1956)

Welles, Orson -- Interview with David Frost, David Frost Show (12 May 1970)

Dave — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 01:22:12 +0000

If there hadn’t been women we’d still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girlfriends.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) American writer, director, actor
Interview with David Frost, David Frost Show (12 May 1970)
(Source)