I liked being in the Marines. They gave me discipline I could live with. By the time I got out, I was able to cope with things on a more realistic level.
I deal with certain things in my work because of who I am. I make work in order to make people think.
I think as an actor, you’re more like a dancer, and you have to use your body. I don’t understand all these questions about nudity. It’s a nonsense. He’s an actor, an artist, so get on with it.
I always feel I’m an amateur. I don’t most of the time know what I’m doing.
The camera movement should be like a cat jumping onto a table – with just enough amount of effort and that’s it. That’s enough.
As far as art and filmmaking is concerned, I don’t see there’s any separation; it’s just one continuous thing.
Stardom equals financial success and financial success equals security. I’ve spent too much of my life feeling insecure. I still have nightmares about being poor, of everything I own just vanishing away. Stardom means that can’t happen.
I want people to do what they want to do because when they feel comfortable it seems to translate better on screen. It is when you put people in a straitjacket that it doesn’t seem to translate very well at all. The individuals I work with are usually people I know.
The best thing about making films is the time spent making them. When I see works that I’ve made, I always think what a great time I had making them. The films remind me of that time.
Often the best way to relax is just to go back to work.
The person is being confrontational.
One of the things that make motorcycling so great is because it never fails to give you a feeling of freedom and adventure.
I really don’t like to act. At the beginning, back in ’51, I had to force myself to stick with it. I was real uncomfortable, real uncomfortable.
I need to have a reason why I’m doing something. Otherwise I’m lost.
Acting is like racing, you need the same concentration. You have to reach inside you and bring forth a lot of broken glass. That’s painful.
The world is as good as you are. You’ve got to learn to like yourself first.
The Navajos have a saying they live by: ‘A land where there is time enough and room enough.’ I want that, too.
I love creating images, of course, because I’m an artist.
I don’t want to talk about nonsense because it doesn’t help me.
Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.