Washington: "I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it."

Washington: "I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic makeup, but it's not all of who I am nor is it the basis from which I answer every question."

Washington: "I think a role model is a mentor - someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them."

Washington: "I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me - spiritually and financially."

Washington: "My faith helps me understand that circumstances don't dictate my happiness, my inner peace."

Washington: "It's simple: You get a part. You play a part. You play it well. You do your work and you go home. And what is wonderful about movies is that once they're done, they belong to the people. Once you make it, it's what they see. That's where my head is at."

Washington: "I work hard for the audience."

Washington: "Everybody has a job to do. There are people in Iraq on both sides of this war who do what they do for religious reasons, and they feel with God on their side. Some people are good at annihilating people. Maybe that's their gift."

Washington: "Acting is just a way of making a living, the family is life."

Washington: "When people protest and are upset with a movie, it becomes a big hit. They hated Passion of The Christ, it worked out pretty well for the box office. So let's get that going."

Washington: "I've found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks."

Washington: "I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness."

Washington: "Some things should be left alone. Not everything needs to be categorized, analyzed, and understood." 

Washington: "Look in the mirror and say ... 'There is opportunity; you can make it. Whatever it is that you choose ... you can do it.'" 

Washington: "If you don't trust the pilot, don't go."

Washington: "I'm not in the loop; I don't know any actors, really, just the ones I work with."

Washington: "I don't concern myself with award. I'd been to the party enough times to know it really didn't matter."

Washington: "I've worked in a factory. I was a garbage man. I worked in a post office. It's not that long ago. I like to think that I'm just a regular guy."

Washington: "My mother used to tell me man gives the award, God gives the reward. I don't need another plaque."

Washington: "Where I think the most work needs to be done is behind the camera, not in front of it."

Washington: "When I was a child I thought I saw an angel. It had wings and kinda looked like my sister. I opened the door so some light could come into the room, and it sort of faded away. My mother said it was probably my Guardian Angel."

Washington: "The time to worrying about flying is when you're on the ground. When you're up in the air, it's too late. No point in worrying about it then."

Washington: "I think the bottom of the totem pole is African-American women, or women of colour. I think they get the least opportunities in Hollywood."

Washington: "You have to grab moments when they happen. I like to improvise." 

Washington: "Michelle Pfeiffer hasn't been finding a lot of work recently because she doesn't like what a woman her age is offered. That's a real double standard. You get Sean Connery, who gets older and older, still playing opposite young ladies, but it doesn't work the other way around."

Washington: "If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her."