When you're an actor, you're a slave to other people's visions.

If you express yourself too much, you're considered weak.

The character of Rocky was built on the idea that he was chosen to do something. That's why the first image in Rocky is the picture of Christ.

I love being so tight on people in close-ups that the veins in their eyes look like the Mississippi River.

The biggest and most interesting crisis in the world is the human crisis, and it never gets boring. It goes back to Shakespeare. You don't need a gimmick; it's just man against man and their intolerance of each other.

The phenomenal thing that happened to me is that I was able to create two memorable men: one is the ultimate optimist, Rocky, and then you have Rambo, the ultimate pessimist. You're going to always be remembered for them, no matter what you do.

Children are the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night. It hurts me to be away from them for a few hours. It really does. I love them and they're girls, so they know how to push my buttons. But I've learned a lot and I have to thank my wife for that.