I was on cruise control from '85 to '95, and it was my fault. There were a lot of self-inflicted wounds, when I was not doing any original material. I wasn't directing. I wasn't writing. That's not who I am.

The only thing that I haven't done is perform brain surgery on myself. I've been very, very lucky. I've spared Shakespeare undue stress by not doing that.

Once in one's life, for one mortal moment, one must make a grab for immortality; if not, one has not lived.

I'm not just painting for painting's sake. I want to be truthful.

Characters I've played, they used to impact my paintings, like 80 percent of the time, and especially when I was doing an action film.

You know you've been around when they start to remake your own movies when you're still alive.

If it's not broken, break it. That's how new discoveries are made. That's why everything that changes life is called a breakthrough.