Good directors can bring certain things out of you, with their intensity or gentleness or sensitivity or understanding. They can make an actor feel he can do no wrong.

I always tell actors when they go in for an audition: Don't be afraid to do what your instincts tell you. You may not get the part, but people will take notice.

In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all.

I've never been one of those actors who has touted myself as a fascinating human being. I had to decide early on whether I was to be an actor or a personality.

I always wanted to direct. Directing is a lot more of a commitment though, a lot more time. I like directors who do very few takes, they know what they want.

You always learn something about movies. Directing or acting, there's always something new. It's the technological thing; there's always something to learn.

I love to find new people. It's not for the sake of their being new; it's because if you find someone who perfectly fits a part, that's such a great thing.

When you love someone you gotta trust them, there's no other way. You gotta give them the key to everything that's yours. Otherwise, what's the point?

In civilized societies, we spend our lifetimes trying to become what is socially acceptable. We're dark and we're light. We all have both sides to us.

Everybody's in New York and, hopefully, my younger kids will go to college in New York and find something they want to do so they'll stay in the city

I guess the only thing to do now is meet his parents. I'm sure they're decent people. I mean they gotta be if they named their son Gaylord Focker.

I mean, the actors that I admired were Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, an actress named Barbara Harris. And Greta Garbo. They were great actors.

Running a casino is like robbing a bank with no cops around. For guys like me, Las Vegas washes away your sins. It's like a morality car wash.

I think that's what we love about the vodka, is that it's consistent. It's consistent in its pureness and that's how I tie it to restaurants.

Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.

When you are working hard, you don't have time for anything other than what you are doing in the scene and what the director wants.

You talking to me? You talking to me? Then who the hell else are you talking to - you talking to me? Well, I'm the only one here.

When you feel that you can't fight it, you just go for it. When it comes to the arts, passion should always trump common sense.

Auditions are like a gamble. Most likely you won't get the part, but if you don't go, you'll never know if you could've got it.

Movies are hard work. The public doesn't see that. The critics don't see it. But they're a lot of work. A lot of work.

I think Hollywood has a class system. The actors are like the inmates, but the truth is they're running the asylum.

Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?

The director respects what they've hired you for and chosen you for: to do the part and respect what you're doing.

In acting, I always try to go back to what would actually be the real situation, the real human behavior in life.

I think it's important to have had at least a few years of obscurity, where people treat you like everybody else.

Sometimes if you have financial restraints, it's a benefit. It forces you to come up with a more creative way.

If De Niro wants to spend the twilight of his career as the McDonald's of master thespians, we can't stop him.

One of the things about acting is it allows you to live other people's lives without having to pay the price.

Somebody steals from me, I'm gonna say you stole. Not talk to him for spitting on the sidewalk. Understand?

You have to think about one shot. One shot is what it's all about. A deer's gotta be taken with one shot.

When I think of a good restaurant, it's where the food has been consistent; there's always a consistency.

You learned the two greatest thing in life, never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut.

I always say people can call me anything they want as long as they don't call me late for supper.

Write down everything you want to do with your life and then spend the next 25 years doing them.

It's important not to indicate. People don't try to show their feelings, they try to hide them.

One regret I have: I didn't get as much of the family history as I could have for the kids.

You draw on whatever’s relevant to the part you’re playing; it makes it more personal.

There is only one way to gain access to the truth and that is to not expect anything.

I have either a cucumber martini, gin martini, or a vodka martini. That's it. Simple.

As an actor, you use the things from yourself that you can apply to the character.

Certain writers have it very precise and there's not much room to add something.

I don't remember what made me want to be an actor. In fact, I'm always curious.

I can get around pretty easily. People don't expect to see me walking around.

Time goes on. So whatever you're going to do, do it. Do it now. Don't wait.

There is a certain combination of anarchy and discipline in the way I work.

The hardest thing about being famous is that people are always nice to you.

If it's the right chair, it doesn't take too long to get comfortable in it.

The one thing I always talk about in terms of restaurants is consistency.

Some day a real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets.

I don't like to watch my own movies - I fall asleep in my own movies.