April 4: Notable Births, with Quotes
Explore memorable and revealing quotes from public figures, past and present, who were born on April 4.
Heath Ledger, actor (April 4, 1979–January 22, 2008)
“I don’t think about ‘career’ and try not to get caught up in it. If it goes down the drain, it goes down the drain. I read scripts, find something I can have fun doing and go for that.” —Heath Ledger
Moore, Roger. “2001 Heath Ledger interview by Sentinel Movie Critic Roger Moore.” Orlando Sentinel, May 11, 2001, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-2001ledgerinterview-story.html.
“Why do I act? We need to work to eat. I don’t live to work, I work to live. This happens to be something that I love to do. I get a million things out of it, but money is about the most important one.” —Heath Ledger
Moore, Roger. “2001 Heath Ledger interview by Sentinel Movie Critic Roger Moore.” Orlando Sentinel, May 11, 2001, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-2001ledgerinterview-story.html.
David Blaine, illusionist (April 4, 1973–present)
“When I was in Haiti they thought I was doing voodoo, and they chased us with rocks the size of cantaloupes.” —David Blaine
Club 808. “A Talk with David Blaine.” Bicycle, https://bicyclecards.com/article/a-talk-with-david-blaine/.
“Since I was little I was holding my breath and things like that. I guess I read about Houdini holding his breath and wanted to do it further than he did.” —David Blaine
Club 808. “A Talk with David Blaine.” Bicycle, https://bicyclecards.com/article/a-talk-with-david-blaine/.
Robert Downey Jr., actor and producer (April 4, 1965–present)
“I’m a guy who lays out my clothes the night before. Eliminates morning confusion.” —Robert Downey Jr.
Spencer, Amy. “Robert Downey Jr. Opens Up About Life After Iron Man, Kung Fu Fighting and Managing a Menagerie in ‘Dolittle.’” Parade, January 3, 2020, https://parade.com/972841/amyspencer/robert-downey-jr-iron-man/.
“My dad always named our pets after directors…well, and one president. So we had George Washington. Then we had Kubrick, we had Sturges. Sturges and I were pretty close; he was a Yorkshire terrier.” —Robert Downey Jr.
Spencer, Amy. “Robert Downey Jr. Opens Up About Life After Iron Man, Kung Fu Fighting and Managing a Menagerie in ‘Dolittle.’” Parade, January 3, 2020, https://parade.com/972841/amyspencer/robert-downey-jr-iron-man/.
Graham Norton, comedian and television personality (April 4, 1963–present)
“I loved him when I was a teenager and then you meet him and he’s so bitter and weird… not a happy time… I think David hates that he was David Cassidy.” —Graham Norton
Griffiths, Emmy. “7 Graham Norton interviews that went very wrong.” Hello!, October 22, 2021, https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20211022124579/graham-norton-interviews-that-went-wrong-details/.
“My first chat show was in 1998 so I do feel very fortunate. I don’t wake up every morning feeling blessed but, you know in those moments when I look back at how well things have gone, I do feel very grateful and fortunate.” —Graham Norton
Atad, Corey. “Exclusive: Graham Norton Explains Why He Owes Tom Cruise A Debt Of Gratitude.” ET Canada, September 30, 2021, https://etcanada.com/news/824282/exclusive-graham-norton-explains-why-he-owes-tom-cruise-a-debt-of-gratitude/.
Maya Angelou, poet and activist (April 4, 1928–May 28, 2014)
“I’ve reached an age where many of the critics I respect have gone on to the next transition, but I’ve learned to listen to young people: my students at Wake Forest or ones I encounter around the world. I’m reaffirmed more often than not. That is to say, I don’t learn something new from them, but I do find that what I’ve found to be true is still true.” —Maya Angelou
Beard, Alison. “Life’s Work: An Interview with Maya Angelou.” Harvard Business Review, May 2013, https://hbr.org/2013/05/maya-angelou.
“Human beings should understand how other humans feel no matter where they are, no matter what their language or culture is, no matter their age, and no matter the age in which they live. If you develop the art of seeing us as more alike than we are unalike, then all stories are understandable.” —Maya Angelou
Beard, Alison. “Life’s Work: An Interview with Maya Angelou.” Harvard Business Review, May 2013, https://hbr.org/2013/05/maya-angelou.
Dorothea Dix, mental health advocate (April 4, 1802–July 17, 1887)
“I shall be obliged to speak with great plainness, and to reveal many things revolting to the taste, and from which my woman’s nature shrinks with peculiar sensitiveness. But truth is the highest consideration. I tell what I have seen—painful and as shocking as the details often are—that from them you may feel more deeply the imperative obligation which lies upon you to prevent the possibility of a repetition or continuance of such outrages upon humanity.” —Dorothea Dix
Dix, Dorothea. “‘I Tell What I Have Seen’—The Reports of Asylum Reformer Dorothea Dix.” National Library of Medicine, April 2006, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470564/.
“I come as the advocate of helpless, forgotten, insane and idiotic men and women; of beings, sunk to a condition from which the most unconcerned would start with real horror; of beings wretched in our Prisons, and more wretched in our Alms-Houses.” —Dorothea Dix
Dix, Dorothea. “‘I Tell What I Have Seen’—The Reports of Asylum Reformer Dorothea Dix.” National Library of Medicine, April 2006, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470564/.
*
Enjoy daily quotes and inspiration wherever you are! Download our Brilliant Quotes app for Apple or Android. Browse by author or category, read our quote of the day, vote for your favorite quotes, and share inspirational quotes on social media.
