One of this century’s great acting talents, Chadwick Boseman inspired many on and off-screen. Let’s look at some of his most motivating quotes.
The late Chadwick Boseman, recognised mainly for his portrayal of Marvel’s Black Panther, was an inspiring actor, playwright, and activist who changed many lives before his untimely death from cancer at the age of 43 in 2020.
Thanks to his role as the Black Panther, Boseman was an inspiration to many around the world, particularly people of colour.
Throughout his life and career, he advocated for more opportunities for marginalised communities, something that bled from his real life into the roles he played on screen.
Widely deemed a hero on and off screen, let’s take a look at ten inspiring Chadwick Boseman quotes about life and motivation.
- One of this century’s great acting talents, Chadwick Boseman inspired many on and off-screen. Let’s look at some of his most motivating quotes.
- Our interesting facts about Chadwick Boseman:
- 10. “Sometimes you need to feel the pain and sting of defeat to activate the real passion and purpose”. – a truth many have felt
- 9. “I remember my first agent telling me – because they found me as an actor, but I was probably more interested in writing and maybe directing – they were like, ‘Well, you can’t do both things.’ And I was like, ‘I’m gonna show you’”. – an important message
- 8. “As an African-American actor, a lot of our stories haven’t been told”. – an advocate
- 7. “I think the most stressful time of my life was when I was in New York, and I didn’t have money to pay my rent”. – the human experience
- 6. “In times of crisis, the wise build bridges while the foolish build barriers”. – wise words from an inspiration
- 5. “There’s nothing more stressful than your stomach growling. But interestingly enough, some of my best writing came when I was poor and hungry – living off water and oatmeal, mind clear”. – turn your experience into art
- 4. “Sometimes you need to get knocked down to understand what your fight is”. – resilience is key
- 3. “Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are meant to shape you for your purpose”. – reaching your goals is never easy
- 2. “Nobody has to give me permission to write”. – do what YOU choose to do
- 1. “To be young, gifted, and black; we all know what it’s like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured”. – borrowing the words of Nina Simone
- Notable mentions
- Your questions answered about Chadwick Boseman quotes
Our interesting facts about Chadwick Boseman:
- Chadwick Boseman went to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he studied and graduated with a degree in film directing.
- Chadwick Boseman often said he was more interested in the writing and directing side of film than being in front of the camera. He said that he wrote scripts to instrumental music, “like a hip-hop artist”.
- His breakthrough role in acting came with the 2013 film 42 when he played baseball legend Jackie Robinson to critical applause.
- Boseman became the first black superhero to have a standalone movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films franchise.
- Despite battling colon cancer for four years, Chadwick Boseman continued to work and act and did not publicly disclose his illness. He died from complications on 28 August 2020.
10. “Sometimes you need to feel the pain and sting of defeat to activate the real passion and purpose”. – a truth many have felt
Chadwick Boseman has said a few really poignant things, and this is one quote that many people can certainly relate to.
Sometimes, when you get knocked down, it ignites a fire in you to get back up and hit back harder than before.
MORE MOTIVATION: Our favourite Wednesday motivational quotes to get you through hump day.
9. “I remember my first agent telling me – because they found me as an actor, but I was probably more interested in writing and maybe directing – they were like, ‘Well, you can’t do both things.’ And I was like, ‘I’m gonna show you’”. – an important message
Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. If you want to do it all, that’s entirely your prerogative.
8. “As an African-American actor, a lot of our stories haven’t been told”. – an advocate
Chadwick Boseman was always motivated to tell more stories about African-American people, whether it was historical figures or black experiences in America.
He was a huge advocate during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and was dedicated to using his position to create more opportunities for people of colour.
7. “I think the most stressful time of my life was when I was in New York, and I didn’t have money to pay my rent”. – the human experience
Chadwick Boseman is a human being like the rest of us. He has lived through struggle and has risen to the top of the game through hard work, determination, and recognition of the human experience.
This is an inspiring quote for anyone who is struggling to reach their goals right now. Never give up!
6. “In times of crisis, the wise build bridges while the foolish build barriers”. – wise words from an inspiration
This is one of the most inspiring Chadwick Boseman quotes about life and motivation because it reminds us to create solutions when a problem arises, not more problems.
5. “There’s nothing more stressful than your stomach growling. But interestingly enough, some of my best writing came when I was poor and hungry – living off water and oatmeal, mind clear”. – turn your experience into art
When you think of Chadwick Boseman as being one of the most prolific actors of his time, this quote really gifts the reader with some perspective.
Getting to where you want to go is never easy. When times are tough, always keep your goals in sight and your motivations clear no matter what.
MORE QUOTES: Our guide to 10 inspiring quotes from sporting heroes.
4. “Sometimes you need to get knocked down to understand what your fight is”. – resilience is key
When fighting for what you want or believe in, sometimes getting knocked back is when you truly realise if what you are fighting for is worth it. If it is, it’ll make you fight ten times harder next time.
3. “Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are meant to shape you for your purpose”. – reaching your goals is never easy
Well, if you ever needed an inspiring Chadwick Boseman quote about life and motivation, this is the one. This is a message that anyone reaching for their goals needs to hear.
Fighting for what you want in life is rarely ever easy. The things that are worth fighting for, though, will put you to the test and give you the boost you need to achieve them.
2. “Nobody has to give me permission to write”. – do what YOU choose to do
While this particular quote relates directly to writing, you can actually credit it to any career path or life goal you’re pursuing, especially when it’s something as subjective as writing.
If you want to do something, don’t sit around and wait for the opportunity to be placed in your lap. Get out there and do it! What’s stopping you?
1. “To be young, gifted, and black; we all know what it’s like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured”. – borrowing the words of Nina Simone
When accepting the award for Cast in a Motion Picture at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Award ceremony, Chadwick Boseman borrowed the words of Nina Simone.
His message was that the cast of predominantly black actors could make something special, a story and a world that they actually wanted and were happy to give to the world.
Notable mentions
“When you pray for something, it can actually happen, and that is powerful”: Everyone may not agree with the power of prayer, but it is undeniable that it is something that bonds people and provides hope.
“Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you need to fulfil”: In this life, it’s important to do more than simply exist. We were given this life for a reason; use it.
“The best advice about getting older? Just be thankful you’re not dead”: An extremely poignant quote considering Boseman was taken before his time. Appreciate life, because you never know when it could be gone.
“When it comes down to it, I’d rather have an action figure than a Golden Globe”: Chadwick Boseman would rather eschew the glory of awards in favour of using his celebrity to achieve the higher purpose of inspiring young people.
Your questions answered about Chadwick Boseman quotes
In this section, we answer some of our readers’ most frequently asked questions about Chadwick Boseman quotes, including some that appear often in online searches on the topic.
What was Chadwick Boseman’s famous quote?
Perhaps his most famous quote comes from his acceptance speech at the 2019 SAG Awards when he quoted Nina Simone’s song ‘To Be Young, Gifted and Black’.
What role is Chadwick Boseman best known for?
Chadwick Boseman was best known for his role as T’Challa, or the Black Panther, in Marvel’s Black Panther.
Why was Chadwick Boseman so inspirational?
Chadwick Boseman inspired many because, throughout his life and career, he advocated for more opportunities for marginalised communities, something that bled from his real life into the roles he played on screen.
RELATED READ: Are celebrities good role models? 5 amazing examples.