Christopher Reeve Quotes: Inspiring Words from a Legend
Christopher Reeve was an actor, director, and activist, who is best known for his role as Superman. He was not only an accomplished actor but also a powerful voice in the fight for disability rights. Even after a tragic accident that left him paralyzed, Reeve remained a beacon of hope and inspiration, sharing his wisdom through his quotes. In this article, we will explore some of the most powerful Christopher Reeve quotes and what they can teach us about life.
Table of Contents
- The Early Life of Christopher Reeve
- The Success of Superman
- Reeve’s Tragic Accident
- The Role of Positive Thinking
- The Importance of Perseverance
- The Power of Love
- Reeve’s Legacy
- Christopher Reeve Quotes on Life and Hope
- “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”
- “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
- “I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
- Christopher Reeve Quotes on Courage and Bravery
- “A hero is someone who, in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers, goes ahead and overcomes anyway.”
- “The strength and power of a country lies not in its ability to fight wars, but rather in its capacity to inspire greatness in its citizens.”
- “Success is finding satisfaction in giving a little more than you take.”
- Christopher Reeve Quotes on Perseverance and Determination
- “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
- “You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.”
- “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”
- Christopher Reeve Quotes on Love and Kindness
- “Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice.”
- “I think that it’s very important that we all recognize that when we criticize somebody, it’s not necessarily a criticism of that person’s whole being. It’s simply a criticism of their words or their actions.”
- “When you have a sense of your own identity and a vision of where you want to go in your life, you then have the basis for reaching out to the world and going after your dreams for a better life.”
- Christopher Reeve Quotes on Hope and Inspiration
- “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”
- “I refuse to allow a disability to determine how I live my life. I don’t mean to be reckless, but setting a goal that seems a bit daunting actually is very helpful toward recovery.”
- “Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.”
1. The Early Life of Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve was born on September 25, 1952, in New York City. He grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, where his mother was a journalist and his father was a novelist, professor, and scholar. Reeve attended the prestigious Princeton Day School and went on to study at Cornell University, where he majored in English.
2. The Success of Superman
In 1978, Christopher Reeve became a household name when he starred as Superman in the hit film of the same name. Reeve’s performance as the Man of Steel was widely praised, and the film was a huge box office success. Reeve went on to star in three more Superman movies, solidifying his status as one of the most beloved actors of his generation.
Despite the success of Superman, Reeve was not content to rest on his laurels. He continued to work on a variety of projects, both on and off screen. He appeared in a number of films and television shows, including “The Bostonians” and “Deathtrap,” and directed several plays on Broadway. He also became an advocate for a number of causes, including stem cell research and disability rights.
3. Reeve’s Tragic Accident
In 1995, Christopher Reeve’s life was forever changed when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition. The accident left Reeve paralyzed from the neck down, and he was forced to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Many people would have been crushed by such a devastating turn of events, but Reeve refused to give up.
Instead, he became an even more vocal advocate for disability rights, using his own experiences to raise awareness and promote change. He founded the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which has since merged with the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at the University of California, Irvine, to become the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
4. The Role of Positive Thinking
One of the most important lessons we can learn from Christopher Reeve is the power of positive thinking. Despite facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Reeve refused to give in to despair. He believed that by focusing on the positive and refusing to give up, he could overcome any challenge.
In one of his most famous quotes, Reeve said, “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.” This message of hope and optimism resonates with people around the world, and has inspired countless individuals to push past their own limitations and achieve their dreams.
5. The Importance of Perseverance
Another key lesson we can learn from Christopher Reeve is the importance of perseverance. Reeve never gave up, even in the face of incredible adversity. He believed that if he worked hard enough and refused to give up, he could overcome any obstacle.
In another famous quote, Reeve said, “I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” This message of perseverance and determination is especially important for anyone facing their own challenges, whether big or small.
6. The Power of Love
Throughout his life, Christopher Reeve was a strong advocate for love and compassion. He believed that by treating others with kindness and respect, we could create a better world for everyone.
In one of his most famous quotes, Reeve said, “Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice.” This message reminds us that true love requires selflessness and a willingness to put others first.
7. Reeve’s Legacy
Christopher Reeve passed away on October 10, 2004, but his legacy lives on. He left behind a powerful message of hope, perseverance, and love, and his work as an actor, director, and activist continues to inspire people around the world.
Today, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation carries on his mission, working to improve the lives of people living with paralysis and funding cutting-edge research to find a cure for spinal cord injury.
8. Christopher Reeve Quotes on Life and Hope
“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”
This famous quote from Christopher Reeve embodies his unwavering belief in the power of hope. Despite facing incredible challenges, Reeve refused to give up or lose faith in a better future. This message of hope has inspired countless individuals to persevere through difficult times and overcome their own obstacles.
“I refuse to allow a disability to determine how I live my life.”
After his tragic accident, Christopher Reeve was forced to adapt to a new way of life, one that was drastically different from the one he had known before. However, he refused to let his disability define him or limit his potential. This quote is a powerful reminder that we should never allow our circumstances to control our lives.
“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
Christopher Reeve believed that with enough determination and willpower, anything is possible. This quote reminds us that even our wildest dreams can become reality if we are willing to work hard and never give up.
“We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.”
Christopher Reeve’s own life is a testament to the truth of this quote. After his accident, he discovered new strengths and abilities he never knew he had. This quote is a reminder that we should never underestimate our own potential or limit ourselves based on our own preconceptions.
“Success is finding satisfaction in giving a little more than you take.”
For Christopher Reeve, success was not about personal achievement or fame. It was about making a positive impact on the world and giving back to others. This quote is a reminder that true success comes not from what we gain, but from what we give.
“I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
This quote from Christopher Reeve is a powerful reminder that heroism is not limited to those with extraordinary abilities or talents. It is the everyday people who face immense challenges and continue to push forward that are the true heroes.
Conclusion
Christopher Reeve was a remarkable individual whose life and legacy continue to inspire people around the world. He taught us the power of hope, perseverance, and love, and showed us that even in the face of incredible adversity, anything is possible.
Through his work as an actor, director, and activist, Reeve left behind a powerful message of courage and determination, one that will continue to motivate and inspire generations to come.
Phrases
-A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
-At some time, often when we least expect it, we all have to face overwhelming challenges. When the unthinkable happens, the lighthouse is hope. Once we find it, we must cling to it with absolute determination. When we have hope, we discover powers within ourselves we may have never known- the power to make sacrifices, to endure, to heal, and to love. Once we choose hope, everything is possible.
-Once you choose hope, anything’s possible
-So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.
-A hero is someone who, in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers, goes ahead and overcomes anyway.
-I remember telling a neurosurgeon, “Don’t give me too much information, because at the moment my ignorance is my best asset.”
-Pain is inevitable. Misery is a choice.
-Don’t put a limit on what can be accomplished.
-Misfortune can force you into doing things you should be doing anyway. Lessons come from adversity. Anything can happen to anyone… You can find a new lease on life – more meaning than you thought possible in simple things… Let go. Live in the moment. Go forward.
-In the face of adversity, hope often comes in the form of a friend who reaches out to us.
-Success is finding satisfaction in giving a little more than you take.
-What makes Superman a hero is not that he has power, but that he has the wisdom and the maturity to use the power wisely. From an acting point of view, that’s how I approached the part.
-Some people are walking around with full use of their bodies and they’re more paralyzed than I am.
-If we don’t dream of the possible,
the possible never happens.-The key to success is letting the relationships in your life grow to the highest levels they possibly can . . . not putting yourself first in life and remembering that the more you give away, the more you have.
-I’m not living the life I thought I would lead, but it does have meaning, purpose. There is love… there is joy… there is laughter.
-In the second half of the 20th century, people are becoming more limited: Vocabularies are smaller, thoughts are smaller, aspirations are smaller, everything is very scaled down. Everyone is typecast.
-You should have a dream and absolutely go for it. Don’t let anybody say you can’t do it.
-If you don’t have a vision, nothing happens.
-Once we choose hope, everything is possible.
-You can do anything you think you can.
-Your body is not who you are. The mind and spirit transcend the body.
-Even if your body doesn’t work the way it used to, the heart and the mind and the spirit are not diminished.
-What I do is based on powers we all have inside us; the ability to endure; the ability to love, to carry on, to make the best of what we have – and you don’t have to be a ‘Superman’ to do it.
-You’ve got to give more than you take.
There is no such thing as can’t.
-Never accept ultimatums, conventional wisdom, or absolutes.
-Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.
-I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us. It may be God, I don’t know. But I think that if we shut out all the noise and clutter from our lives and listen to that voice, it will tell us the right thing to do.
-For everyone who thought I couldn’t do it… for everyone who thought I shouldn’t do it… for everyone who said, ‘It’s impossible’… see you at the finish line!
-When the first Superman movie came out, I gave dozens of interviews to promote it. The most frequent question was: What is a hero? My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences. Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
-To be able to feel the lightest touch really is a gift.
-We live in a time when the words impossible and unsolvable are no longer part of the scientific community’s vocabulary. Each day we move closer to trials that will not just minimize the symptoms of disease and injury but eliminate them.
-I gradually stopped wondering, ‘What life do I have?’ and began to consider, ‘What life can I build?
-Either you vegetate and look out a window, or activate and try to effect change.
Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Don’t sell out.
-If I can laugh, I can live.
-You play the hand you’re dealt. I think the game’s worthwhile.
-When we turn our attention away from ourselves, our potential is limitless.
-A hero is an ordinary person doing things in an extra ordinary way.
-America is better when all of us take care of all of us.
-By reaching out, more comes back than you can possibly imagine.
-When I first began acting, I assumed an intellectual responsibility attached to my profession, which I had accepted for a long time. My father taught me that an actor had to have a social and political conscience, and that the work that he does has to reflect from that.
-We can either watch life from the sidelines, or actively participate… Either we let self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy prevent us from realising our potential, or embrace the fact that when we turn our attention away from ourselves, our potential is limitless.
-Success is not about money and power. Real success is about relationships. There’s no point in making $50 million a year if your teenager thinks you’re a jerk and you spend no time with your wife.
-We all have many more abilities and internal resources than we know. My advice is that you don’t need to break your neck to find out about them.
-You should take some responsibility for the way you present yourself. But you should not be hung up on your looks, whether you are ugly or handsome, because it isn’t an achievement.
-I get pretty impatient with people who are able-bodied but are somehow paralyzed for other reasons.
-I don’t think actors are to blame for poor writing. The culture changes first, and the theater follows it. In the case of the movies, it’s the same thing.
-I have more awareness of other people and, I hope, more sensitivity to their needs. I also find that I’m more direct and outspoken.
-there is a relationship between the mind and the body that can both create a physical condition and enable us to recover from it
-Every scientist should remove the word ‘impossible’ from their lexicon.
-Even though I don’t personally believe in the Lord, I try to behave as though He was watching.
-I refuse to allow a disability to determine how I live my life. There is only one way to go in life and that is forward.
-Nothing of any consequence happens unless people get behind an idea. It begins with an individual and they share the idea with more individuals-and eventually it becomes a movement.
-Living a life with meaning means spreading the word. Even if you can’t move, you can have a powerful effect with what you say.
-What can I do today to take a step forward?
-I have never been disabled in my dreams.
-And if you can channel the truth of your own experience onto the stage, that’s what the audience wants to see.
-On the wall of his rehabilitation room was a picture of the space shuttle blasting off, autographed by every astronaut now at NASA. On top of the picture it says, “We found nothing is impossible.” That should be our motto.
-I am a very lucky guy. I can testify before Congress. I can raise funds. I can raise awareness.
-It’s defeatist to harp on what might have been, and yet, it’s hard to resist considering what might have been.
-The character is a piece of fiction. You are yourself, however, and that makes you interesting, because you’re alive and you’re a human being.
-The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I’m not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.
-It’s important to me to say what I really mean.
-I never said I will stand, I said I hoped to stand. It wasn’t a prediction.
-Having that college-town atmosphere with a live repertory company available was a real gift. I found myself gravitating toward the theater from about the age of nine. I guess it was the environment that got me started.
-I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. As a result, I am ready to take up again the characters who are closer to what I really am.
-People may never understand this – and perhaps I should give up caring whether they do or not – but the idea of me playing Superman is so far away from what I was brought up to aspire to.
-I have no bones to pick and no fight with society. And I’m willing to be and interested in being in the mainstream of society.
-I am optimistic. But I also know that, with time, I’m beginning to fight issues of aging as well as long-term paralysis.
-My father is an intellectual and physical man, which is a rather unusual combination. He’s great. As he brought up me and my brothers and sisters, he ingrained in us that your appearance is not your responsibility, other than that you should not be a slob.
-I did my first apprenticeship when I was 15, then joined the union when I was 17. I worked every summer in high school and college.
-Maybe one way I am original is that at heart I really am a classical actor. I haven’t had my chance yet in the commercial world to show that. Movies aren’t really made about classical people so much any more.
-I’ve still never had a dream that I’m disabled. Never.
-It never occurred to me that I was a leading man until I was 19 years old. I had been acting since I was 10, so that’s nine years and 30 or 40 plays, in school and summer stock, professional theater, too.
-I’m starting a new chapter in my [[life], and you have no idea how much that means.
-All the scientists who are working on solving the problem of curing paralysis say that it won’t do you any good if you don’t keep your body in shape.
-You learn the stuff of your life (sports, movies, traveling) … that’s not the essence of your existence, my relationships were always good. Now they have transcended (rise beyond).
