April 18: Notable Births, with Quotes

Explore memorable and revealing quotes from public figures, past and present, who were born on April 18.

Conan O’Brien, television host and comedian (April 18, 1963–present)

“I’ve devoted all of my adult life to pursuing this strange phantom intersection between smart and stupid. There’s a lot of people who believe the two cannot coexist, but god I will tell you, it is something I believe religiously, I think when smart and stupid come together… I think it’s the most beautiful thing in the world.” —Conan O’Brien
Pallotta, Frank. “Conan O’Brien says goodbye to late night.” CNN, June 25, 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/24/media/conan-obrien-last-show-late-night/index.html.

“I like comedy that is about me as a person who’s somewhat ridiculous going through life and whether it’s Chaplin-esque or Jacques Tati or it’s just — it’s about a person encountering – being embarrassed or humiliated or being — you know, going through life and sort of like Buster Keaton or any of those great people. I’m not playing at their level, but I — that is my approach to comedy is to try and find connections and things that other people can relate to.” —Conan O’Brien
Gross, Terry. “Conan O’Brien On Late-Night TV: ‘All I Ever Wanted To Do Was Make People Laugh.’” NPR, November 26, 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/11/26/938521404/conan-obrien-on-late-night-tv-all-i-ever-wanted-to-do-was-make-people-laugh.

Rick Moranis, actor and comedian (April 18, 1953–present)

“I took a break, which turned into a longer break. But I’m interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role.” —Rick Moranis
Parker, Ryan. “Rick Moranis Reveals Why He Turned Down ‘Ghostbusters’ Reboot: ‘It Makes No Sense to Me.’” The Hollywood Reporter, October 7, 2015, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/rick-moranis-reveals-why-he-829779/.

“I’m surprised that Disney hasn’t done ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Grandkids.’” —Rick Moranis
Parker, Ryan. “Rick Moranis Reveals Why He Turned Down ‘Ghostbusters’ Reboot: ‘It Makes No Sense to Me.’” The Hollywood Reporter, October 7, 2015, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/rick-moranis-reveals-why-he-829779/.

James Woods, actor (April 18, 1947–present)

“So much of what Hollywood does now, I’m sorry to say… they’re busy with the political agenda, socially political agenda, and that’s fine. But the older white heterosexual European male is only the villain in movies. Very rarely are we anything but the villain now.” —James Woods
Brew, Simon. “James Woods interview: Leone, Casino, Oliver Stone, Hemdale.” Den of Geek, February 25, 2014, https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/james-woods-interview-leone-casino-oliver-stone-hemdale/.

“I’m not a material person. I wear cheap shoes and jeans. I don’t really spend money. All I really want are my cameras and my computer stuff and my watches and that’s about it.” —James Woods
Brew, Simon. “James Woods interview: Leone, Casino, Oliver Stone, Hemdale.” Den of Geek, February 25, 2014, https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/james-woods-interview-leone-casino-oliver-stone-hemdale/.

Hayley Mills, actor (April 18, 1946–present)

“My father was an actor. My mother had been an actress and she was a writer. I used to go to the studios where he was working. I used to go to theaters where he was rehearsing. It was all around me.” —Hayley Mills
Radish, Christina. “Disney Legend Hayley Mills Reflects on ‘The Parent Trap’ 60 Years Later.” Collider, June 21, 2021, https://collider.com/hayley-mills-the-parent-trap-interview/.

“The first film that I’d ever seen was ‘Bambi.’ And then, it was ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ which I had nightmares about.” —Hayley Mills
Radish, Christina. “Disney Legend Hayley Mills Reflects on ‘The Parent Trap’ 60 Years Later.” Collider, June 21, 2021, https://collider.com/hayley-mills-the-parent-trap-interview/.

Clarence Darrow, lawyer (April 18, 1857–March 13, 1938)

“Everybody may have his own taste about marrying, whether it is between two people of the same race or two people of a different race, but is there any reason in logic or in ethics why people should not meet together upon perfect equality and in every relation of life and never think of the difference, simply because one has a little darker skin than the other?” —Clarence Darrow
“Linder, Douglas. “Darrow Speaks Out About Race.” Famous Trials, https://famous-trials.com/sweet/122-darrowessay.

“Every time a superior person who has position invades the rights and liberties and the dignity of an inferior person, he degrades himself, he retards and debases his own manhood when he does it.” —Clarence Darrow
“Linder, Douglas. “Darrow Speaks Out About Race.” Famous Trials, https://famous-trials.com/sweet/122-darrowessay.

*

Enjoy daily quotes and inspiration wherever you are! Download our Brilliant Quotes app for Apple or Android. Browse by author or category, read our quote of the day, vote for your favorite quotes, and share inspirational quotes on social media.