"Contrary to general belief, I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like best, they are merely the people who got there first."

Action

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Insight & Reflection

This reflection on action by Peter Ustinov resonates across generations. It highlights a fundamental truth about human nature: our continuous search for meaning in action is what ultimately defines our character and our path forward.

About Peter Ustinov

Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov was a British actor, writer and humanitarian. An internationally known raconteur, he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits for much of his career. Ustinov received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Silver Bear, a Laurel Award, a Photoplay Award and a Grammy Award, as well as nominations for three BAFTA Awards, two Tony Awards, two Laurence Olivier Awards and a Gemini Award. In 1992, Ustinov was awarded with the British Academy Britannia Award.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the ShortQuote Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Peter Ustinov

"Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious."

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"The truth is an ambition which is beyond us."

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"Corruption is nature's way of restoring our faith in democracy."

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"Men think about women. Women think about what men think about them."

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More about Action

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."

— Og Mandino
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"It's amazing to me that, in the 42 years since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, women today still receive fewer wages than men for the same work."

— Mike Honda
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"Music is pretty much the lifestyle, not the music itself. The lifestyle really pulled me off the street. Made me want to do something organized and positive."

— Brandon Thomas
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"I think it's very difficult, and it requires a tremendous amount of spiritual integrity and discipline, to not be a narcissist in a culture that encourages it every step of the way."

— Alan Ball
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