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

I went back to the stage because it was my way of dealing with the success I had, my way of coping.

The fruit falls off the tree. You don’t shake it off before it’s ready to fall.

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.

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.

Sometimes it also helps you to understand the mentality of the people in the team a bit better.

I think maybe the English don’t want to try something and look stupid, because they are a bit reserved.

Literature deserves its prestige for one reason above all others – because it’s a tool to help us live and die with a little bit more wisdom, goodness, and sanity.

I’ve always been a bit squeamish when it came to that kind of thing.

Learning (Shakespeare’s plays) …in school was a bit of a bore.

In America most everybody who’s Italian is half Italian. Except me. I’m all Italian. I’m mostly Sicilian, and I have a little bit of Neapolitan in me. You get your full dose with me.

When I showed an interest in drumming, he showed me how to mummy-daddy roll and that set me up for a bit.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that. I never had any specific style.