“The actor becomes an emotional athlete.”

I understand it on a superficial level, but the depth of it just boggles my mind. I think it’s probably the greatest of all speeches ever written.

Forget the career, do the work. If you feel what you are doing is on line and you’re going someplace and you have a vision and you stay with it, eventually things will happen.

I did say to her that I thought that she had a real gift, and it’s a good idea to know that. It’s always good to go with your gift.

The thing is doing it, that’s what it’s all about. Not in the results of it. After all what is a risk? It’s a risk not to take risks. Otherwise, you can go stale and repeat yourself.

What kind of failure was it? A failure because it’s misunderstood by others? A failure because you misunderstood it yourself?

The whole thing is, they never asked for it, that kingdom.

Man is a little bit better than his reputation, and a little bit worse

An actor basically likes to be asked to do something, no matter what position he’s in. It feels more natural. Sitting and waiting is more gratifying.

Lee Strasberg is like that, my grandfather was like that. These are the kinds of men I’ve had close relationships with.

I didn’t go for the needle at all. I never cared for drugs, because I saw what they did to most people. I thought that was the end of the road.

Either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals.

There’s something to learn from it. I’ve had movies that have failed colossally, so you kind of analyze your failures.

I turned down a lot of films before I made my first one. I knew that it was time for me to get into movies.

You’ll never be alone if you’ve got a book.

One of the things that made me want to be an actor more than ever was seeing a Chekhov play, “The Sea Gull,” when was 14 in the Bronx.

We live in a world where the more you’re working, the more things you do. It’s a workaday world.