I grew up in church. My mom's a minister, and my grandmother was an ordained minister. I was always very mindful of the presence of a greater being I call God. Mahershala Ali More Quotes by Mahershala Ali More Quotes From Mahershala Ali The people that I admire have a wonderful balance of self-belief and humility. Mahershala Ali humility self people To really be conscious of how long the journey is, be patient, push yourself, persevere and always be working on your craft while waiting for your break. Mahershala Ali journey waiting long I think what I've learned from working on "Moonlight" is we see what happens when you persecute people. They fold into themselves. Mahershala Ali ive-learned people thinking Gay, straight - whatever - adolescents in high school and coming out of junior high, that's such a difficult, awkward period and kids can be so cruel and mean. Mahershala Ali mean kids school Hold tight to the mentality of being a student, meaning hold on to curiosity and approach life as a student. Mahershala Ali approach curiosity students I always hope to be a better person tomorrow than today. Mahershala Ali better-person tomorrow today What inspires me today is a desire to get closer to an understanding of what my artistic capacities are with the hope of organically sharing my gifts with an audience in the most heightened way I possibly can. Mahershala Ali understanding desire inspire I've personally been on the outside sometimes. But I was - I personally was never persecuted especially in the way in which sharing my own experiences. Mahershala Ali persecuted sometimes way At the end of the day we're all spirits having a physical experience. Mahershala Ali spirit I was always sort of ahead of myself in some way, shape or form and trying to envision how to get further along and closer to fulfilling that dream of being of being free and having a creative agency, so to speak. Mahershala Ali agency creative dream At the end of the day we're all spirits having a physical experience. That really comes from my relationship with Islam because it just makes me really conscious of my action. Mahershala Ali islam spirit action I think how strict my mother's home could be with my mom and my stepfather, there was a fluidity and freedom in my dad's existence that I enjoyed when I was around him, though the responsibility was just different. He expected me to carry myself a certain way without all the rules and confines. Mahershala Ali dad mom mother I never wanted to accept that. And so I have always fought against that in some way, shape or form and had - I've had people who have supported trying to get me in for things that were beyond the character description. Mahershala Ali trying character people So many Muslims would tell you that they felt like that you had to - you fold it into yourself because people were looking at you and recognizing you as being the culprit even though, look, I'm American. I don't believe that the teachings of Islam justified those actions. Mahershala Ali teaching believe people I feel like [terrorism] acts are un-Islamic. So to see that happen and somebody do that in the name of God, it just - and the religion that you practice, it just - it hurts your heart so deeply because it's such a misrepresentation of the faith. Mahershala Ali islamic hurt heart I think my mom gave me the borders, the - gave me a very clear understanding of what the perimeter was. And I had to find my fun within those boundaries. Mahershala Ali mom fun thinking I know there were periods of times where I didn't feel understood, and there were very few people around me that I felt like they really got me. There was one person who was sort of the one in my life that really got me.In general, I felt a little bit on the outside and not totally included. There was a period of time when we were moving around a lot. So I couldn't really hold on to a certain set of friends. And so that was a little bit difficult. Mahershala Ali littles people moving I'm not much of cook, but I cook a mean bowl of oatmeal. Mahershala Ali oatmeal cooks mean I do think that there are people who are able to connect with and empathize with anyone who is going through something difficult, just naturally. I don't think it's a world of effort for everyone. Mahershala Ali effort people thinking When it finally came my way and doors opened up for me to do it and to be on stage, it felt like a natural thing to try out. And it just so happened to speak to me. I really couldn't do what I needed to do in the most fulfilling way in Hayward, Calif., or in the Bay Area, that it required me to go off to NYU. Mahershala Ali nyu doors trying
