Arnaz Quotes & Sayings

I didn't know anything about acting, much less about acting in a comedy. — Desi Arnaz

I've never been in trouble. I've never had detention or anything. I wasn't a teacher's pet though either. — Arnaz Battle

I learned a lot in those first years in Miami, while struggling just for survival, by observing my father's fortitude. — Desi Arnaz

Nobody bats 500. We all make mistakes. — Desi Arnaz

I liked all of my science classes from biology to chemistry. I thought dissecting was one of the most interesting parts of it. — Arnaz Battle

Al Jolson was one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived. — Desi Arnaz

When we weren't scratching each other's eyes out, we were making each other laugh harder than anyone else could. — Lucie Arnaz

A single prop that does not look real to an audience can louse you up. The same is true of the smallest flaw in setting up the motivation in a story line. — Desi Arnaz

Joe McCarthy and his Senate hearings were like witch-hunts. — Desi Arnaz

In 1934 there were very few Cubans in Miami. — Desi Arnaz

I had never intended to be on the show more than three years, regardless of how successful it was. I had other things I wanted to do. And I was offered a role in 'Red Sky at Morning', [1970]. I got that part because [producer] Hal Wallis had seen the HERE'S LUCY show with Ann-Margaret. It was a thrill for me, getting to do the drama and comedy. It was such a good role. So I missed several episodes of the show to shoot the movie. And I never came back but one. — Desi Arnaz Jr.

I learned a lot from Xavier Cugat. — Desi Arnaz

The way the Army does things is sometimes a little strange. — Desi Arnaz

At times we were criticized for doing too much slapstick. I don't believe in mild comedy, and neither does Lucy. — Desi Arnaz

If you don't know what to do, don't do anything. — Desi Arnaz

The success of I Love Lucy is something that happens only once in a lifetime, if you are fortunate enough to have it happen at all. — Desi Arnaz

I had started calling her Lucy shortly after we met; I didn't like the name Lucille. That's how our television show was called I Love Lucy, not Lucille. — Desi Arnaz

I was never in an episode of I LOVE LUCY! — Lucie Arnaz

The Spanish and Cuban people have the same kind of wakes the Irish do. They go on for two or three days and drink a lot of booze and eat a lot of food. — Desi Arnaz

Good things do not come easy. The road is lined with pitfalls. — Desi Arnaz

An actor who is good at comedy can also be very good at drama, but not necessarily vice versa. — Desi Arnaz

Anything that gets you to release the stress in your life and really laugh is worthwhile. It can heal the planet. It truly can, and it actually has. — Lucie Arnaz

I was an only child, but I did have a hell of a lot of cousins. — Desi Arnaz

I went to high school with Al Capone. — Desi Arnaz

The custom of my grandfather's day is still going strong in Latin America. American girls do not seem to understand it. — Desi Arnaz

One of my biggest problems with comedy was that I did not understand some of the jokes. — Desi Arnaz

The thing I remember about New York was how little I felt. I arrived with one small bag and $15. — Desi Arnaz

Since I was very young I have always worked hard at whatever I have had to do. — Desi Arnaz

An audience is so important. I would never have had the guts to dub in that big a laugh. — Desi Arnaz

Failure is the most terrible thing in our business. When we fail, the whole world knows about it. — Desi Arnaz

No one could ever argue with me about people in show business being kind of nice. — Desi Arnaz

Everyone seemed to be doing well except me and my career. And my accent was no helping me any. — Desi Arnaz

In middle school, I had this one teacher who would kick me out all the time. He just didn't like me. I could ask a person next to me to borrow a pencil, and he'd kick me out of class. Besides that, I've never been in trouble. — Arnaz Battle

Real intellectuals like to escape once in a while from their world of intellect. — Desi Arnaz

It was easy for viewers to identify with our show. The characters were believable. — Desi Arnaz

I was the only male of the Arnaz family in my generation. — Desi Arnaz

Lucy is such a perfectionist. — Desi Arnaz

The straw hat is the typical hat Cubans use. It's cool and keeps the sun away from your face. — Desi Arnaz

American people have the ability to laugh at themselves. It is one of the things that makes this country the great country that it is. — Desi Arnaz

I could have stayed home and been kept by my wife. — Desi Arnaz

Motion-picture studio floors used to be all wooden and not smooth at all. This was difficult when moving a camera around on a dolly. — Desi Arnaz

I received my Greetings from Uncle Sam in May 1943. I applied for the Air Force. — Desi Arnaz

When we got married, nobody gave it more than two weeks. There were bets all over the country, with astronomical odds against us. — Desi Arnaz

My Latin temper blows up pretty fast, but it goes down just as fast. Maybe that's why you seldom hear of ulcers in Latin America. — Desi Arnaz

Drinking intensifies all your pressures and your needs. — Desi Arnaz

I don't think anyone can tell you what it is that makes you a star. — Desi Arnaz

Mother came to New York to keep house for me. — Desi Arnaz

It's really amazing that two people from such different backgrounds and geographical origins ever got together. That was perhaps part of the attraction. — Desi Arnaz

About once every six months someone notifies me that Lucy and Desi Arnaz are separating. — Hedda Hopper

When I get in the sun I get very tanned. You can't tell me from the native fishermen in Hawaii or Mexico. — Desi Arnaz

I recently watched that Lucie Arnaz-produced documentary [Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie, 1992] about her parents [Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz], and I saw so much of my own childhood there. — Ben Stiller

Lucy and I would love furiously and fight furiously. — Desi Arnaz

Making a television show is not like making Coca-Cola or Bacardi rum. The human element in our business prevents us from finding a successful formula every time. — Desi Arnaz