152 Quotes by Chris Gardner

I went through pain as a child so my children wouldn't have to.

I have one of those old-fashioned mothers who told me every single day, 'Son, you can do or be anything that you want to do or be.' And I believed it. I bought into it 100%.

I've said that if you're not doing something that you're passionate about, you're compromising yourself every single day.

I chose to embrace the spirit of my mother, who, though she had too many of her own dreams denied, deferred, and destroyed, she still instilled in me, her child, that I could have dreams and that I did have a responsibility and the power.

So many men have holes in their souls the shape of their fathers. You can pass that on to your kid, or you can do something about it, and I'm seeing a lot of men doing something about it.

I had never gone to college. I was not from a politically connected family. I had no money of my own. Who is going to do business with you?

I'm encouraged by what I see of men trying to be there for their children.

Probably the hardest question I get asked is, 'How do I choose between passion and practicality?' I can't answer that. I had to do both. I was passionate about pursuing a career in financial services. But I was also passionate about feeding my child.

Will Smith played Chris Gardner better than Chris Gardner ever did.