I've had no ­contact with my daughter for years. That's her choice. Anyway, you move on. If people don't want to bother with me, fine. You know, God bless them, and move on.

In the theatre, people talk. Talk, talk until the cows come home about journeys of discovery and about what Hazlitt thought of a line of Shakespeare. I can't stand it.

I've got no need to prove to myself that I can do Shakespeare. I've done it.

If you're in a successful play and the play is working well - I mean successful because the audiences like it, the audiences respond well - it's a pleasure.

When I was a young guy, I knew everything. Now I know very little. I know less and less as the time goes on.

I just remember Kathy Bates getting on the stage and "The Oscar goes to Anthony Hopkins." I looked around, because I really thought Nick Nolte would get it. I really thought Nick would get it. I was very surprised. It was neck and neck with Nick Nolte and myself. So I really was expecting that to happen, and I went in there without any expectations.

A conductor can't be too arrogant with an orchestra and try to impose himself too much.