The champion's management says let's do this for real, for charity. Rocky says no but decides to be true to himself even though he's going to be berated by everyone. Just to compete, not to win.

When you're on top and you lead the parade, everyone's there throwing lilies and lilac water on your head. But when those parades have gone by and there's a storm in your heart, there are very few people that are going to sit there and listen to you bemoan life.

You have to grab life by the throat and squeeze before it grabs you by your neck and breaks it. Own your destiny.

I've been involved in something which was chaotic and insane. All I can say now is that I am, and intend to stay, a single man.

If you're gonna be a failure, at least be one at something you enjoy.

Certain characters, mostly heroes, have to be the straight silent type; that is part of the make-up.

The one thing in my films, I only kill people who need to be killed, or killers killing killers. And I believe that the violence is very justifiable.