Nobody ever reads the same book twice.

Sometimes fear could be forgotten, but never for long.

Men have this climacteric, you know, like women. Doctors deny it, but I have met some very menopausal persons in their profession.

I seemed to be the only person I knew without a plan that would put the world on its feet and wipe the tear from every eye.

...so Leola thought that a modest romance with a hero in embryo could do no harm - might even be a patriotic duty.

I learned later that the former operator of Abdullah had been a dwarf who cannot have been fastidious about his person, and there was a strong whiff of hot dwarf as I grew hotter myself.

Wisdom may be rented...on the experience of other people, but we buy it at an inordinate price before we make it our own forever.

He became an unimaginative woman's creation. Delilah had shorn his locks and assured him he looked much neater and cooler without them. He gave her his soul, and she transformed it into a cabbage.

He gave me this advice one time: Never marry your childhood sweetheart, he said; the reasons that make you choose her will all turn into reasons why you should have rejected her.

And why should it not be terrifying? A little terror, in my view, is good for the soul, when it is terror in the face of a noble object.

Myself: But wasn't the decision a right one? Am I not here? What more could Feeling have achieved than was brought about by Reason?

Are you New World or Old?' 'Sounds like a novel by Henry James.' 'Never read him.' 'Don't. But that was his question and he plumped for the Old.

Of course some of us had some geography in school and had studied maps, but a school map is a terribly uncommunicative thing.

They were anxious to make men of us, by which they meant making us like themselves.

I can't imagine going back to long hair. Cutting it was the greatest thing I ever did

I've always wanted to be able to let myself go over the edge

It's just poetry, beauty and love. How hard can that be to act?

If you're happy, if you're feeling good, then nothing else matters.

I'd rather attempt something I'm not sure I can do

It's what still excites me most about acting: letting your imagination go places it's never been before. There's nothing better than that

I think I've always been a follow-the-leader with my career, or maybe waiting for things to happen. Now I'm like, I'm OK-I know the direction, whoever's on board can go with me.

The seasoned woman is going to offer a more seasoned character.

I've been told I've done a lot of flop movies. And I think, 'Wow, I've never considered them flops!' I've loved every character I played.

I think I've always been waiting for things to happen.

I always look for variety. I always want to run the gamut.

I secretly want to skydive, even though it's my greatest fear!

I dislike arrogant men and diva behavior in either gender.

My mother liked to buy houses, fix them up, and turn them over. We'd live somewhere for a few months and then move to another house, sometimes just two blocks away.

I didn't want to commit to a TV show.

I tell you, being on a soap is the hardest work, and it gets so old. Get on your mark, get in the light, don't turn too far upstage - that's all it is.

I hate everything I do. I hate my voice. I sound like a guy.

You never accomplish everything you want to accomplish.

I'd rather do 'She's So Lovely' that John Cassavetes wrote versus doing 'Batman.'

The word 'demand' is a tricky word when used by our gender. When used by men, it's part of their vernacular.

That character called 'Robin Wright' in the movie called 'The Congress' has nothing to do with me... I've never felt that way about life choices, career, etc.

I'm not a practice religion freak. I didn't grow up in a religious family, but I have a faith.

I know what I don't want.

I honestly don't want to act anymore.

If 'American Beauty' came out today, it wouldn't make nearly as much money.

You're never going to be able to delve into the character traits of a Michelle Obama or Hillary Clinton.

I don't want to always be the tortured, soulful wife.

As an actor, I had noticed very vividly that very few directors know how to direct actors because they haven't done it.

You couldn't pay me enough money to go back to being 20. So many tears; what a nightmare it was. It's much better being older.

I met an agent through my modeling agency who encouraged me to go out and audition for sitcoms, and I was absolutely petrified because I had no desire to do it.

I'm not exactly the type of actress who does half a dozen films a year.

I really wanted to be a mom. I didn't want my kids to be raised by a nanny, which would have been the case if I were working two movies in a year, you know? And I would have been hospitalized with fatigue.

I wish I were stronger in areas. Not so consumed or distracted.

I don't know enough about politics. I am out of the loop.

It's just never been in my nature to go out there and go on a red carpet to say, 'Oh, publicize me!'

From the time I was wee big, my mother was one of the first members of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Women going door-to-door and letting housewives have their own business - that was really a breakthrough. It was huge.