Christopher Lee

Actor

Christopher Lee was a renowned actor and musician, celebrated for his iconic roles in horror films and his unique contributions to heavy metal music.

Born
May 27, 1922
Died
June 7, 2015
Quotes
51
Rank
#2525

About Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee — Life and Legacy

Christopher Lee was a distinguished actor and musician, known for his commanding presence in film and his unique contributions to the music world. His portrayal of characters like Count Dracula and Saruman showcased not only his acting prowess but also his ability to delve into the complexities of fear and identity. Lee's key ideas often revolved around the exploration of human nature, as seen in his famous line, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' This reflects his belief that fear can either paralyze or empower individuals, revealing their true selves. He challenged the conventional portrayal of villains, suggesting that they often embody the darker aspects of humanity while still possessing redeeming qualities. Today, Lee's quotes continue to resonate, particularly in discussions about identity and authenticity. His reflections remind us that our experiences shape who we are, urging us to embrace our complexities rather than conform to societal expectations.

Quote collection

Christopher Lee quotes (page 1 of 3)

51 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

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"I've seen many men die right in front of me - so many in fact that I've become almost hardened to it. Having seen the worst that human beings can do to each other, the results of torture, mutilation and seeing someone blown to pieces by a bomb, you develop a kind of shell. But you had to. You had to. Otherwise, we would never have won."

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"I think that - apart from the fields of science and medicine - we live in an age of decline. Look at the world. There is decline in morals, ideals, manners, respect, truthfulness: just about everything, in fact."

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"Someone asked me yesterday if Dracula met Saruman and there was a fight, who would win. I just looked at this man. What an idiotic thing to say. I mean, really, it was half-witted."

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"When the Second World War finished, I was 23 and already I had seen enough horror to last me a lifetime. I'd seen dreadful, dreadful things, without saying a word. Seeing horror depicted on film doesn't affect me much."

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"We don't always get the kind of work we want, but we always have a choice of whether to do it with good grace or not."

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"I dont want to sound gloomy, but, at some point of your lives, every one of you will notice that you have in your life one person, one friend whom you love and care for very much. That person is so close to you that you are able to share some things only with him. For example, you can call that friend, and from the very first maniacal laugh or some other joke you will know who is at the other end of that line. We used to do that with him so often. And then when that person is gone, there will be nothing like that in your life ever again."

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"Lon Chaney and Boris Karloff didn't like the word 'horror'. They, like I, went for the French description: 'the theatre of the fantastique'."

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"The Dracula movies are probably some of the most famous and enduring ones there are and I am very grateful to them, for sure."

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"Films are now made by accountants. They pick a pretty young female or male face out of the air and give them a part - not because they think that person is right for it or is ready for it, but because they think that person will make them money."

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"Making films has never just been a job to me, it is my life. I have some interests outside of acting - I sing and I've written books, for instance - but acting is what keeps me going, it's what I do, it gives life purpose."

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"My favourite country is Finland because once you get to a certain point, you can drive for hours without seeing a single person. I love peace and quiet - something I don't get very often."

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"I was always fascinated by fairy stories, fantasy, you know, demons, necromancers, gods and goddesses, everything that is out of our kin and out of our everyday world. I was always interested in enchantment and magicians and still am."

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"I have been metal all my life, only I did not know about it. The people in this album (Charlemagne) and I, share the same values."

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"Acting is like a snowstorm or perhaps a large empty vacuum. I`m not deluded by the fact that I'm getting all these offers for work, I'm very happy about it, but I know also that there is the other side and who knows, next year, they may not offer me anything. You never know."

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"I haven't spent my entire career playing the guy in the bad hat, although I have to say that the bad guy is frequently much more interesting than the good guy."

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"The thing I have always tried to do is surprise people, to present them with something they didn't expect."

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"I thought that people should know about the dangers of Satanism, and diabolism does exist - there's no question about it."

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"Johnny Depp, as far as I'm concerned, is number one. Of his generation, there's no one who can touch him. Some performers, today, it's like looking at holes in the air."

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"There are many vampires in the world today - you only have to think of the film business."

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