When I used to be a contract player in 1954 at Universal, I wasn't getting good roles. I was getting one-liners, and then I'd be gone. But I'd hang around; I'd watch guys. And when I had days off, which was most days, I'd go down and watch other sets while they were shooting. Watch Joan Crawford or whomever. Just watch how they worked and how the director handled them. I didn't know anything about making movies, and there's a lot to learn.

With people in high office, the old - you go into the extreme, which is absolute power and absolute power corrupts.

Directing is more like you're being a psychologist and you're kind of analyzing the situation and evaluating each person for their idiosyncrasies.

Great stories teach you something. That's one reason I haven't slipped into some sort of retirement: I always feel like I'm learning something new.

The country has come a long way in race relations, but the pendulum swings so far back. Everyone wants to be so sensitive.

Pose? I don't pose. What am I? Paris Hilton or something?

There's nothing like a nice piece of hickory.