“This is the moment — this is the most important moment right now. Which is: We are about contribution. That’s what our job is. It’s not about impressing people. It’s not about getting the next job. It’s about contributing something.”

The major difference between the ‘best’ and the ‘average’ is that the ‘best’ get as much pleasure from practice as performance.

It’s not a question of how much power you can hoard for yourself, but how much you can give away.

When you make a mistake, throw your hands in the air and say “How fascinating!”

My job [is] to awaken possibility in other people. If their eyes are shining, you know you’re doing it. If they’re not shining you get to ask this question: “Who am I being that my children’s eyes are not shining?”

Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why.

It is the tuning of the universe… It’s as if at the beginning of the symphony God turns up the volume just a tiny bit.

I have a definition of success.

If you make a mistake, celebrate.

The conductor of an orchestra doesn’t make a sound. He depends, for his power, on his ability to make other people powerful.

Who am I being that my players’ eyes are not shining?

The job of the leader is to speak to the possibility.

I make myself a relentless architect of the possibilities of human beings.

We can replace the narratives that hold us back by inventing wiser stories, free from childish fears, and, in doing so, disperse long-held psychological stumbling blocks.

how absurd human beings are and how magnificent.

Look at their eyes. If their eyes are shining, you know you’re doing it.

How often do we stand convinced of the truth of our early memories, forgetting that they are assessments made by a child?

The red-carpet thing of premieres and parties is probably my least favourite part of my job.

I believe the leader’s ultimate job is to spread hope.

I’m not concentrated or concerned with any other factors rather than just being able to do the best job that I can.

To do my job well, I have to be a good listener. The listening is so much more important than the talking.

London is a fantastic creator of jobs – but many of these jobs are going to people who don’t originate in this country.

There is no job more important than parenting. This I believe.

When you are public figure, you’re an athlete or actor, that is your job to speak out on certain things. I think you speak out on what you desire to speak out on or your passionate about.

All actors who have been around for a long time, which I have, and have been skint for long periods, which I have, find it difficult to turn down jobs. If I turn anything down my stomach turns over. I feel sick. It feels like gambling.