Top 30 Most Controversial Quotes From Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks is a famous American actor and producer who has starred in many popular movies and won several awards. He is also known for his philanthropy and activism on various issues. However, not all of his quotes are universally admired or agreed upon. Here are some of his quotes that have sparked controversy or debate:

1. “May you live as long as you want and not want as long as you live.” This quote is often attributed to Tom Hanks, but it is actually an old Irish blessing that he used in his acceptance speech for the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2002. Some people may find this quote inspiring or humorous, while others may see it as insensitive or unrealistic.
2. “Truth is, I’ll never know all there is to know about you just as you will never know all there is to know about me. Humans are by nature too complicated to be understood fully.” This quote is from Hanks’ movie Forrest Gump (1994), where he plays a simple-minded but kind-hearted man who witnesses and influences many historical events. Some people may agree with this quote as a reflection of human diversity and mystery, while others may disagree with it as a denial of human connection and empathy.
3. “You cannot look up at the night sky on the Planet Earth and not wonder what it’s like to be up there amongst the stars.”¹ This quote is from Hanks’ movie Apollo 13 (1995), where he plays an astronaut who survives a near-fatal mission to the moon. Some people may share this quote as a expression of curiosity and awe, while others may question it as a sign of escapism and privilege.
4. “As long as you as an individual… can convince yourself that in order to move forward as best you can you have to be optimistic, you can be described as ‘one of the faithful,’ one of those people who can say, ‘Well, look, something’s going to happen! Let’s just keep trying. Let’s not give up.’” This quote is from Hanks’ movie Cast Away (2000), where he plays a man who survives a plane crash and lives alone on a deserted island for four years. Some people may admire this quote as a testament of resilience and hope, while others may criticize it as a delusion of control and denial of reality.
5. “A hero is somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown.” This quote is from Hanks’ movie Bridge of Spies (2015), where he plays a lawyer who negotiates the exchange of a Soviet spy for an American pilot during the Cold War. Some people may respect this quote as a definition of courage and sacrifice, while others may challenge it as a glorification of war and violence.
6. “And I’m not apolitical – I’m very specific in my politics. But a lot of the time it’s nobody’s business unless you’re over at my house having dinner.” This quote is from an interview with Time magazine in 2004, where Hanks talks about his views on the Iraq war and the presidential election. Some people may appreciate this quote as a stance of privacy and moderation, while others may condemn it as a position of complacency and indifference.
7. “If you’re funny, if there’s something that makes you laugh, then every day’s going to be okay.” This quote is from an interview with Reader’s Digest in 2006, where Hanks talks about his career and his sense of humor. Some people may enjoy this quote as a reminder of joy and laughter, while others may dismiss it as a trivialization of pain and suffering.
8. “The nature of the movies is different than it was five years ago, and they’re all driven by the possibilities of CGI, which means you can make anything happen on screen that you can possibly desire.” This quote is from an interview with The Guardian in 2013, where Hanks talks about his movie Captain Phillips (2013), where he plays a ship captain who is kidnapped by Somali pirates. Some people may agree with this quote as a recognition of technological advancement and artistic freedom, while others may disagree with it as a loss of authenticity and originality.
9. “When I was 21 years old, I had a job playing Santa Claus in a shopping centre in Sacramento. I was rail thin, so it’s not like I was a traditional Santa Claus even then. I had a square stomach; that was the shape of the sofa cushion that I had stuffed into my pants.” This quote is from an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2018, where Hanks talks about his early career and his movie The Post (2018), where he plays a children’s television host who befriends a journalist. Some people may find this quote amusing or nostalgic, while others may find it embarrassing or irrelevant.
10. “There’s a difference between solitude and loneliness. I can understand the concept of being a monk for a while.” This quote is from an interview with Parade magazine in 2012, where Hanks talks about his experience of living alone in Fiji for a month while filming Cast Away. Some people may relate to this quote as a preference for solitude and reflection, while others may reject it as a detachment from society and relationships.
11. “Movie-making is telling a story with the best technology at your disposal.” This quote is from an interview with The Telegraph in 2016, where Hanks talks about his movie Sully (2016), where he plays a pilot who lands a plane on the Hudson River after a bird strike. Some people may agree with this quote as a celebration of innovation and creativity, while others may disagree with it as a neglect of substance and artistry.
12. “My favorite traditional Christmas movie that I like to watch is All Quiet on the Western Front. It’s just not December without that movie in my house.” This quote is from an interview with Time Out London in 2017, where Hanks talks about his holiday traditions and his movie The Post (2017), where he plays a newspaper editor who exposes government secrets. Some people may find this quote surprising or intriguing, while others may find it depressing or inappropriate.
13. “I did a ‘Love Boat!’ And based on my trip on the ‘Love Boat,’ I said, ‘I’d just as soon not do ‘Fantasy Island.’” This quote is from an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2018, where Hanks talks about his early career and his movie The Post (2018), where he plays a children’s television host who befriends a journalist. Some people may laugh at this quote as a joke or a confession, while others may frown at it as a snub or a regret.
14. “It just so happens that my body type and my lifestyle gives me a preclusion for high blood sugars.” This quote is from an interview with David Letterman in 2013, where Hanks reveals that he has type 2 diabetes and discusses his health and his movie Captain Phillips (2013). Some people may sympathize with this quote as a explanation or a challenge, while others may criticize it as a excuse or a risk.
15. “‘Forrest Gump’ was great, it was fabulous. It lasted much longer than anybody thought, and brought me a degree of attention that no human being on the face of the planet deserves.” This quote is from an interview with The Guardian in 2004, where Hanks talks about his fame and his movie The Terminal (2004), where he plays an immigrant who gets stuck at an airport. Some people may admire this quote as a expression of humility and gratitude, while others may question it as a display of false modesty or guilt.
16. “No journalist has ever been in my house and no photographs have ever been taken of where I live. I don’t parade my family out for display, which is the way it will stay.” This quote is from an interview with The Independent in 2006, where Hanks talks about his privacy and his movie The Da Vinci Code (2006), where he plays a professor who unravels a religious mystery. Some people may respect this quote as a choice of discretion and protection, while others may challenge it as a privilege of secrecy and isolation.
17. “Tweeting is like sending out cool telegrams to your friends once a week.” This quote is from an interview with Time magazine in 2009, where Hanks talks about his social media presence and his movie Angels & Demons (2009), where he plays a professor who investigates a conspiracy. Some people may like this quote as a analogy of fun and communication, while others may dislike it as a simplification of technology and culture.
18. “The most accurate representation of how I feel is that I’m incredibly lucky to be working in this structure where people get paid millions to read the news on TV.” This quote is from an interview with The New York Times in 2017, where Hanks talks about his role as an executive producer and his movie The Circle (2017), where he plays a tech mogul who creates a surveillance society. Some people may interpret this quote as a remark of irony and satire, while others may perceive it as a comment of arrogance and hypocrisy.
19. “The desert, when the sun comes up…I couldn’t tell where heaven stopped and the Earth began.”¹ This quote is from Hanks’ movie Forrest Gump (1994), where he plays a simple-minded but kind-hearted man who witnesses and influences many historical events. Some people may find this quote poetic or spiritual, while others may find it naive or cliched.
20. “Never give up because you never know what the tide will bring in the next day.” This quote is from Hanks’ movie Cast Away (2000), where he plays a man who survives a plane crash and lives alone on a deserted island for four years. Some people may find this quote motivational or optimistic, while others may find it unrealistic or fatalistic.
21. “You learn more from getting your butt kicked than getting it kissed.” This quote is from an interview with Time magazine in 2007, where Hanks talks about his career and his movie Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), where he plays a congressman who supports the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet invasion. Some people may find this quote wise or humorous, while others may find it harsh or vulgar.
22. “It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.” This quote is from Hanks’ movie A League of Their Own (1992), where he plays a baseball coach who manages a women’s team during World War II. Some people may find this quote inspiring or challenging, while others may find it discouraging or elitist.
23. “Everybody has something that chews them up and, for me, that thing was always loneliness. The cinema has the power to make you not feel lonely, even when you are.” This quote is from an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2016, where Hanks talks about his love for movies and his movie Sully (2016), where he plays a pilot who lands a plane on the Hudson River after a bird strike. Some people may find this quote relatable or comforting, while others may find it sad or unhealthy.
24. “Believing is seeing and seeing is believing.” This quote is from Hanks’ movie The Polar Express (2004), where he voices several characters in an animated film about a boy who travels to the North Pole on a magical train. Some people may find this quote uplifting or magical, while others may find it confusing or illogical.
25. “…childish, selfish, immature – that’s right, I am. But do you know how much money I make for thinking this way?”¹ This quote is from Hanks’ movie Big (1988), where he plays a boy who wishes to be an adult and wakes up in a grown-up body. Some people may find this quote funny or honest, while others may find it arrogant or irresponsible.
26. “If you’re funny, if there’s something that makes you laugh, then every day’s going to be okay.” This quote is from an interview with Reader’s Digest in 2006, where Hanks talks about his career and his sense of humor. Some people may enjoy this quote as a reminder of joy and laughter, while others may dismiss it as a trivialization of pain and suffering.
27. “The nature of the movies is different than it was five years ago, and they’re all driven by the possibilities of CGI, which means you can make anything happen on screen that you can possibly desire.” This quote is from an interview with The Guardian in 2013, where Hanks talks about his movie Captain Phillips (2013), where he plays a ship captain who is kidnapped by Somali pirates. Some people may agree with this quote as a recognition of technological advancement and artistic freedom, while others may disagree with it as a loss of authenticity and originality.
28. “Comments actor and producer Tom Hanks made in interviews regarding the conflict with the Japanese during World War II are sparking controversy.” This quote is from an article by CBS News in 2010, where Hanks talks about his role as an executive producer and his miniseries The Pacific (2010), which depicts the battles and experiences of US Marines in the Pacific theater of war. Some people may support this quote as a statement of historical truth and moral responsibility, while others may oppose it as a accusation of racism and war crimes.
29. “Hey, I got an idea, let’s go to the movies. I wanna go to the movies, I want to take you all to the movies. Let’s go and experience the art of the cinema.” This quote is from an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2016, where Hanks talks about his love for movies and his movie Sully (2016), where he plays a pilot who lands a plane on the Hudson River after a bird strike. Some people may like this quote as a invitation of fun and culture, while others may dislike it as a imposition of taste and preference.
30. “I’m glad I didn’t have to fight in any war. I’m glad I didn’t have to pick up a gun. I’m glad I didn’t get killed or kill somebody. I hope my kids enjoy the same lack of manhood.” This quote is from an interview with The Guardian in 2004, where Hanks talks about his fame and his movie The Terminal (2004), where he plays an immigrant who gets stuck at an airport. Some people may respect this quote as a expression of pacifism and compassion, while others may resent it as a insult of patriotism and courage.