[on whether he harbored any resentment at his forced retirement from the stage after he was fired by Britain's National Theater] I should be soaring away with my head tilted slightly toward the gods, feeding on the caviar of Shakespeare... An actor must act.

Life is enthusiasm, zest.

Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.

My stage successes have provided me with the greatest moments outside myself, my film successes the best moments, professionally, within myself.

Don't waste your time striving for perfection; instead, strive for excellence - doing your best.

Without acting, I cannot breathe.

The art of persuasion. The actor persuades himself, first, and through himself, the audience.