In tennis, a lot of parents are accused of driving their kids into tennis. I would say I'm the opposite: I drove my parents into it. They didn't take it that seriously until I was about 11 or 12 years old, when they realised I had an opportunity to go pro.

Ana Ivanovic

When I took over as president, I studied the Constitution, and the more I studied it, the more I realised that it does not prevent the president of India from giving the nation a vision. So when I went and presented this vision in Parliament and in legislative assemblies; everyone welcomed it, irrespective of party affiliations.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Respect Men Art

As a kid, I was always into art at the same time as computers, and eventually I realised I was making more interesting stuff with my keyboard than with my hands. I really enjoyed modifying computer games more than playing them, so that got me into programming.

Aaron Koblin

Time Computers Art

I realised that if I wanted to act, I needed to join theatre where I could improve my acting skills first and also show my talent.

Abhimanyu Singh

Where Wanted Want

For me, it was always that one extra job that you do to survive in the industry. I also realised that I was not well-sculpted as an actor because I was getting a lot of rejections. I stopped acting and focused on casting.

Abhishek Banerjee

You Well Ways

I realised that the only time I really enjoyed music was when I was in the studio writing. So even though it was a six album deal, they saw quite early on that I wasn't enjoying it as I should be. I didn't feel there was anything behind it.

Adam Rickitt

Time Music Yin

I don't want the baggage of knowing things when I walk on to a set. I am more comfortable being an empty slate, surrendering before a director and writer's vision. I've realised that this is the best way for me to function.

Aditi Rao Hydari

Age Writer Write

By the time I finished my first three films, I realised this is something I want to do for a long time, learn, and grow in.

Aditya Roy Kapur

Time Want Tim

Pakistan never valued Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab until English songwriter Peter Gabriel started collaborating with him. After that, the country suddenly realised that they have an amazing talent. This is the story of a lot of artistes there.

Adnan Sami

Pet Art Amazing

When I was little, I thought everyone in the world liked to read because it was so fun. But then I realised that was not exactly true. I want other kids to read and write more all over the world, because it helps them to understand things better.

Adora Svitak

Write World Want

It's definitely time to stop. We're getting too old. We both realised that the show wasn't as engaging as it used to be. We were starting to look a bit ridiculous.

Adrian Edmondson

Time Art Were

Well, obviously I'm not Mark Wahlberg - I have much better abs and I look much better in a pair of Calvin Kleins but when I saw Mark Wahlberg interacting with the world, I realised that his stardom was sort of a result of the movies he had done and the publicity that he had got and the work that he did.

Adrian Grenier

Work Movies World

Because we're playing tournaments week in and week out I'd think to myself, 'What's the point in practising?' You have no down time to yourself and you're looking for some to spend with your family and friends. But I've now realised that with the game so cut-throat and standards going up every week, it doesn't work.

Adrian Lewis

Work Time Men

I think losing out on jobs and, you know, being judged on your appearance... I definitely grew a second skin and got used to it, but more so now, I've realised it definitely contributed to a lot of things I feel about myself.

Adwoa Aboah

Your You Used

Some people get into comedy because they love comedy. Then there are people who have a message and have realised that if they can be funny, maybe people will listen to it. And then there are people like me, who are just addicted to making people laugh.

Aisling Bea

Love Funny Age

Earlier, I used to charge territories instead of my fees as an actor, but I realised it was better to keep the two apart. Now, I take my fees in cash, for acting, and keep the distribution thing separate.

Ajay Devgan

Art Used Use

Through the years, I have realised that when you have had fun playing a role, it comes across on screen.

Akshaye Khanna

You Yin Years

When someone like me takes a sabbatical, it leads to a few happy realisations. It was only when I was away that I realised how films are such a big part of my life.

Akshaye Khanna

Life Art Way

I always wanted to be a golfer, only I realised that if I'd played golf I would have been skint.

Alan Hansen

Would Ways Way

I thought, 'It doesn't matter what that woman is wearing,' but then I realised actually it's our job as designers to make women smile; to bring them the chocolate without the calories.

Alber Elbaz

Women Smile Men

When I first started modeling, I realised I was very different from many of my colleagues, but I welcomed the opportunities my career in fashion offered me and the support from many inspiring individuals in the fashion industry.

Alek Wek

Car Art Welcomed

What I've learnt is to be in the now. It's something my mum has always said to me, and when I read a book called 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle, I realised just how important it is.

Alesha Dixon

I've always had a passion for dancing, and I wasn't lucky enough to go to stage school, so when I got onto the show, I was like a kid in a sweet shop. I went into it just to have fun. The support was overwhelming, to say the least. It wasn't until the end of the show that I realised how much I really wanted to win it.

Alesha Dixon

When I played in goal at Stamford Bridge, I realised that's not my best position.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

I've realised that there is no magic trick to television; it just comes down to hard work and being prepared for every appearance and trying to get your point across as clearly as possible.

Alex Scott

Everything doesn't have to be perfect, I've realised. You can learn as you go.

Alexa Chung

I never thought about writing a novel until I was 13, and that happened by chance. I was on school holidays, and I was bored, and I thought I just wanted to do something to occupy myself instead of asking, 'What can I do, mum? Entertain me.' I started, and it really just took over, and I realised, 'Wow, this is an amazing experience.'

Alexandra Adornetto

Once I started to grow up, I realised that my parents are normal people and they can make mistakes.

Alfie Allen

I didn't know I had a fan base on the other side of the border. I thought that since actor Ali Zafar is from Pakistan, the fans might have mistaken me for him. Eventually, I realised that they have liked my work, and that feeling sunk in.

Ali Fazal

Hollywood has realised that we do have actors and are not just mad about song and dance.

Ali Fazal

What I realised is, watching some old home videos, I've always had a weird accent. It's because I spent a lot of time on film sets. But Australia will always be home... I sound like the Qantas ad, don't I?

Alice Englert

I probably revisit in my work the moment at which I realised that dreams couldn't be reality.

Alice Lowe

My mum used to tell me when I was a kid that I had to go to bed at 7.30 P.M., and when I'd ask why, she'd say, 'Well, you do get a bit grumpy when you don't have routines'. Then I realised, when I was a bit older, that's actually true.

Alicia Vikander

I went to University College London and read English literature, then realised if you were interested in story and narrative, film was the way to go.

Alison Owen

When a player hears the word 'psychologist' at the first, you are taken aback, but I realised that I needed help.

Alvaro Morata

I didn't know much about the 'Walking Dead' until after I booked the gig, and then I watched the first four seasons. I binge watched them in two weeks, and at that moment I realised, 'Oh, this is a much bigger thing than I thought it was.'

Alycia Debnam-Carey

I have realised the importance of finding the right nutrition for our pets.

Amala Akkineni

I went through a phase of deep introspection. I realised that while doing films back to back, I was getting burnt out and not concentrating on quality. I wasn't preparing for my role and was working like a machine. When I saw the result on the big screen, I felt that the work I'd done was horrible.

Amala Paul

After my mother passed away, I felt as though I would never have a relationship as strong as the one that I had had with her. Then, after a lot of ups and downs, I started dating again - but I realised pretty quickly that I was never going to write cheesy love songs.

Amber Mark

Since I don't come from a privileged background, I couldn't afford to be irresponsible with career decisions. I wrote two books alongside my job and resigned only when I realised I can make a living.

Amish Tripathi

Very early in my life, I realised that it is okay getting rejected. Sometimes, we take rejection too personally.

Amit Sadh

I went into politics on an emotional level and soon realised that emotion has nothing to do with politics.

Amitabh Bachchan

Long ago, when I was in higher secondary school in Delhi, I read an essay by George Orwell in which he said there was a voice in his head that put into words everything he was seeing. I realised I did that, too, or maybe I started doing it in imitation.

Amitava Kumar

I realised at the age of 16 that unless I read the gospels, I would never have access to Renaissance art, to the music of Bach or the novels of Dostoevsky. So in the evenings, when the other boys went to play basketball or chase girls - I had no chance in either - I found my comfort in Jesus.

Amos Oz

My parents always used to ask me to settle down, and I could never understand that term. However, after marriage, I have finally realised the importance of having a companion.

Amruta Khanvilkar

Once I moved to L.A., there was a dark moment of trying to keep up with the girls I thought were pretty. Until I realised that's the stupidest thing you can do because people are so pretty in L.A.!

Amy Adams

In tennis, a lot of parents are accused of driving their kids into tennis. I would say I'm the opposite: I drove my parents into it. They didn't take it that seriously until I was about 11 or 12 years old, when they realised I had an opportunity to go pro.

Ana Ivanovic

I was almost on the verge of studying medicine. But then, I realised I would have to give up singing. That is when it dawned on me that I could have a career in music.

Andrea Jeremiah

There was a time in my life when I used to plan elaborately; not anymore. I gave up when I realised nothing was going my way.

Andrea Jeremiah

When I was a youngster, I and people like us, who are educated and progressive-minded, did not take interest in politics. But then I realised that half of the parliament is being run by politicians with criminal records.

Andrea Jeremiah

My dream was, start young, take hormones, live as a woman, try and become as passable as possible, bury your past, change your friends. Now I've realised that I don't have to be ashamed of my past.

Andreja Pejic