Quote of the day by Al Pacino: ‘The truth is, you know, we need our anodynes. You know that …’ – The Godfather star on finding small comforts in life

Life is not made entirely of dramatic moments. Between ambition, disappointment, work and the pressures that accumulate with age, there are also the small things that allow people to pause and recover: a quiet evening, a warm bath, a favourite drink or simply a few minutes without demands.

For Al Pacino, one of Hollywood's most intense actors, those seemingly ordinary comforts have a name: anodynes. The word, which refers to something that relieves pain or soothes distress, became the centre of one of Pacino's more unexpectedly gentle observations about life.

Quote of the day by Al Pacino: “The truth is, you know, we need our anodynes. You know that word, anodynes? We need that in life sometimes. A good warm bath can be one for you, or a whatever.”


The quote is attributed to Pacino in accounts of his interview with Larry King, in which he was discussing relaxation and his own relationship with drinking. The full context makes the word particularly interesting: Pacino was talking about the ways people look for something that helps them unwind at the end of difficult or demanding periods.

Al Pacino

Born Alfredo James Pacino on April 25, 1940, in New York City, Pacino grew up in the South Bronx after his parents separated when he was young. His mother, Rose, raised him, and the future actor eventually found his way toward theatre and acting despite periods of financial hardship.

As a young man, Pacino worked various jobs while pursuing acting. He studied under celebrated acting teacher Lee Strasberg and developed his reputation on the New York stage before his breakthrough in cinema.

His performance as Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film The Godfather transformed his career. He subsequently appeared in films including Serpico, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, ...And Justice for All, Scarface, Dick Tracy and Scent of a Woman. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Scent of a Woman in 1993.

Yet Pacino's career has never been confined to film. Theatre remained an important part of his identity, and his work has repeatedly moved between Shakespeare, contemporary drama and character-driven stories.

Behind the legendary performances was an actor who has spoken candidly about uncertainty, shyness, financial struggles and the pressures of fame.

In a 2015 interview with The Guardian, Pacino recalled periods when he was unemployed and even slept in a storefront for several days when he was younger. He also described work itself as something he has continually pursued, saying that the joy of working has kept him going.

What does ‘anodyne’ mean and what did Pacino mean?

An anodyne is something that relieves pain, soothes distress or provides comfort. Pacino's point is broader than simply recommending a bath. The quote recognises something fundamentally human: people need ways to come down from the pressures of everyday life.

An anodyne does not have to be spectacular. It might be a warm bath, a walk, music, conversation, reading, cooking or simply sitting quietly for a while. The value lies not necessarily in what the activity is, but in the relief it provides.

People cannot remain at full emotional intensity indefinitely. There are moments when the most useful thing is not another achievement or another challenge, but something that simply makes life feel a little easier for a while.

That is perhaps why the word “anodyne” gives the quote its unusual charm. Pacino takes an obscure word and applies it to something utterly ordinary.

That makes Pacino's words surprisingly different from the tough, confrontational image associated with many of his characters. Instead of celebrating endurance alone, he acknowledges the importance of recovery.

More quotes by Al Pacino

“It's easy to fool the eye but it's hard to fool the heart.”

“It’s a risk not to take risks.”

“I don’t think actors should ever expect to get a role, because the disappointment is too great.”

“Money makes your life easier. If you're lucky to have it, you're lucky.”