A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do.

I've come to believe that everything worth achieving is beyond one's capacity - or seems so at first. The thing is to persist, not back off, fight your fight, pay your dues, and carry on. Effort is all; continue and you may get there despite everything.

The world was like a huge red carpet out ahead of me to be walked on. And it stretched on and on, no end.

I wouldn't go up on a stage now if you paid a thousand dollars for one minute of acting. It's a nasty experience. You're up there all by yourself. You're so damn exposed.

If you're going to play a cowboy, show up with the horse at the audition

I want to thank the Academy for its courage and generosity.

When you know what an actor has, you can reach in and arouse it. If you don't know what he has, you don't know what the hell is going on.