Quote Of The Day By Denzel Washington: 'They Were Going To Pay Me A Lot Of Money And...'

Winning an Oscar is already a massive feat for an actor, so winning twice is even rarer. Denzel Washington won two Academy Awards: one for his supporting role in "Glory" in 1990 and the other for his lead role in "Training Day" in 2002. Washington is revered by many in the industry for his captivating on-screen presence and for inspiring the next generation of performers. 

From "Remember the Titans" to "Malcolm X," Washington's filmography is stacked with several compelling watches. But let us not forget his impact on TV. He starred in NBC's hit medical drama "St. Elsewhere" and he also joined the set of "Grey's Anatomy" to direct an episode. He also indirectly saved one of TV's greatest cop shows – if it weren't for the positive reception to "Training Day" following the events of 9/11, FX's "The Shield" wouldn't have been greenlit. 

In the past couple of years, Washington starred in "Gladiator II" and reunited with Spike Lee for their fifth collaboration, "Highest 2 Lowest." Although he can transform into any role, that doesn't mean that he will take on every script that comes his way. This Denzel Washington Quote of the Day shows he knows when to say "no" to a project that doesn't play to his strengths.

"They were going to pay me a lot of money, and I really thought about it, but I didn't do it."

The quote above comes from an interview that Denzel Washington gave for The Talks in 2012, where he spoke about passing on roles early in his career after Sidney Poitier's guidance. The "In the Heat of the Night" leading man told Washington that the first five films that you star in shape your trajectory as an actor. This advice prompted him to pass on an unmade comedy that would pay him a lot of money.

Washington thought the script was "terrible," but he did think about the offer for a while before declining it. The decision enabled him to later land a role in 1987's "Cry Freedom," the film that earned him his first Academy Award nomination. This experience even led Washington to relay advice of his own for young actors getting offered crummy, lucrative parts: "You don't have to compromise. Go do some theater and wait."

The quote of the day by Denzel Washington proves that sometimes saying "no" and waiting for the right opportunity to come along is better than signing off on something you aren't aligned with. Washington is selective about the films he wants to partake in, and that's been beneficial for his career. 

The film he mentioned in The Talks interview wasn't the only one he passed on. Washington reportedly turned down roles in "Se7en" and "Michael Clayton." He told GQ that he regretted passing on the latter, claiming that he was impressed by the script but was reluctant to work with a first-time director. In the same year that "Michael Clayton" was released, Washington starred in Ridley Scott's "American Gangster," which had a predominantly positive critical reception.

The clever way with which the actor has managed his career and trusted his gut instincts has allowed him to excel and become an influential name in Hollywood. As he prepares to star in "The Take," "Black Panther 3," and more "Equalizer" sequels, Washington has no plans to retire.

• "Without commitment, you'll never start, but more importantly, without consistency, you'll never finish." — from his speech at the 2017 NAACP Image Awards
• "What an opportunity you have to make a difference, because you never know who's watching. But most importantly, shouldn't do it to be seen. Pray about it. Whatever it is you're committed to, fight for it." — from his 2024 interview with Better Man 365
• "I'm not scared to say 'no,' and you have to say 'no' sometimes. It's the no's that have really gotten me where I am now professionally." — from his 2025 episode on the NXT Chapter Podcast