When an actor plays a scene exactly the way a director orders, it isn’t acting. It’s following instructions. Anyone with the physical qualifications can do that.
JAMES DEANThere is no way to be truly great in this world. We are impaled on the crook of conditioning.
More James Dean Quotes
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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.
JAMES DEAN -
An actor must interpret life, and in order to do so must be willing to accept all the experiences life has to offer. In fact, he must seek out more of life than life puts at his feet.
JAMES DEAN -
How can you measure acting in inches?
JAMES DEAN -
On these days I go to my studio, leaf through an art history book, and tell myself that I am part of this great tradition.
JAMES DEAN -
I’m not going to go through life with one arm tied behind my back.
JAMES DEAN -
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.
JAMES DEAN -
I want to be a Texan 24 hours a day.
JAMES DEAN -
Being a good actor isn’t easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I’m done.
JAMES DEAN -
But you can’t show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture.
JAMES DEAN -
I firmly believe Rebel Without A Cause is such a picture.
JAMES DEAN -
An hour or two of learning from the masters is usually enough to recharge my artistic batteries.
JAMES DEAN -
A fish that is in the water has no choice that he is. Genius would have it that we swim in sand. We are fish and we drown.
JAMES DEAN -
Remember: Life is short, break the rules
JAMES DEAN -
I have sacrificed a physical bond, for a metaphysical relationship. I am the ultimate idealistic lover.
JAMES DEAN -
Being a good actor isn’t easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I’m done.
JAMES DEAN






