“I’m a serious-minded and intense little devil – terribly gauche and so tense that I don’t see how people can stay in the same room as me. I know I couldn’t tolerate myself.”

There is no way to be truly great in this world. We are all impaled on the crook of conditioning.

He must be superhuman in his efforts to store away in the core of his subconscious everything that he might be called upon to use in the expression of his art.

I can’t let in the light.It will destroy my performance like light destroys film

Reality doesn’t have any preconceived ideas. You’ve got to learn how to smoke the cigarette, not act smoking the cigarette.

The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results.

To me, acting is the most logical way for people’s neuroses to manifest themselves, in this great need we all have to express ourselves.

Mind you, my boy will make his mark.

The only greatness for man is immortality.

To grasp the full significance of life is the actor’s duty; to interpret it his problem; and to express it his dedication.

Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.

My fun days are over.

Studying cows, pigs and chickens can help an actor develop his character. There are a lot of things I learned from animals. One was that they couldn’t hiss or boo me.

The greatest school of the theater. It houses great people like Marlon Brando, Julie Harris, Arthur Kennedy, Mildred DunnockVery few get into it, and it is absolutely free.

I fawn over these people. I have given them my heart and my soul. The trouble is, I’m unable to love anyone tangible

Trust and belief are two prime considerations. You must not allow yourself to be opinionated.

To my way of thinking, an actor’s course is set even before he’s out of the cradle.