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 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.
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.
One of the things that make motorcycling so great is because it never fails to give you a feeling of freedom and adventure.
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.