Thought of the day by Robert De Niro: 'You’ll have time to rest when...' - A powerful lesson on living fully

There are not many performers in Hollywood who could be described as being so influential as Robert De Niro. During his career of over five decades, this very versatile performer has portrayed a lot of different characters including villains, lonely and mentally disturbed people, and loving fathers. De Niro was born in New York City on August 17, 1943. He was brought up in the neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and Little Italy of New York City. Robert De Niro Sr. and Virginia Admiral were De Niro’s parents. They were painters, thus, De Niro had an inclination towards the arts from childhood. When he became older, De Niro discovered his love for acting and learned about it in earnest. It was his dedication to this art form that later defined him as an actor.

The career of De Niro took an entirely new turn in his association with film director Martin Scorsese. Their very first film together, 'Mean Streets' (1973), launched a partnership that has become one of the most celebrated collaborations between an actor and a director ever made in films. These include 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull', 'Goodfellas', 'Casino', 'The Irishman', and 'Killers of the Flower Moon'. De Niro has several roles that have been immortalized in the pop culture of America. His role as Travis Bickle in 'Taxi Driver' (1976) delivered the legendary line 'You talkin' to me?' His performance in 'Raging Bull' saw him transform his body to play Jake LaMotta.




Quote of the day

Quote of the day - "You’ll have time to rest when you’re dead," is widely attributed to celebrated American actor and producer Robert De Niro.

Meaning of the quote

The quote of the day by Robert De Niro speaks a strong word about getting the best out of the available time. It does not imply that one should not sleep, be healthy or get enough rest. On the contrary, it is the advice to not let hesitation, laziness and fear stop one from doing the things which truly matter. Life is fast, and sometimes, the moments when you need to act do not depend on whether you are fully prepared for them or not. There are dreams to achieve, there are people to love, there are places to see and there are chances you will not get ever again. The quote's central message is living with urgency and purpose rather than allowing opportunities to pass by. Resting is important, but it is also necessary to know when it is time to stand up and start doing something.

His talent has earned him much acclaim. The first of his Academy Awards came when he acted in The Godfather Part II as the young Vito Corleone in a supporting role. However, he won his second Academy Award as the Best Actor of the year for his role in Raging Bull. But there is another side to De Niro's acting career, one that may have been overlooked at times. He showed his ability to perform comedy roles in films like 'Analyze This' and 'Meet the Parents'.



Apart from acting, De Niro has been a director, a producer, and an entrepreneur as well. De Niro was co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, which was established after the events of September 11 in order to revive Lower Manhattan.

De Niro is now in his 80s, and his career is a testament to many generations of cinema making. Whether through his roles in hard-hitting films from the 1970s or more contemporary movies from Hollywood, his dedication to the art of acting is evident.