I used to shy away from publicity so as not to let it get in the way of the work. But it's part of the job. The tabloids are a whole other arena. If fame happens, it happens. I just want to maintain focus.

I love talking about Scientology.

There's the concept that if I do this big budget project, then that will help me do the things I really want to do and bring more money to those films.

I'm old fashioned with my cell phone. I like that human contact and I think it's important.

Dostoevski was on to something. You are the path you choose. You are what your vocation is.

If I had to choose criteria, for me, it's about first the director. I want to be a part of something that's good and intellectually challenging. After the director it's the character and the story. That's the deal for me.

I used to shy away from publicity so as not to let it get in the way of the work. But it's part of the job. The tabloids are a whole other arena. If fame happens, it happens. I just want to maintain focus.

Those people are unabashedly ruthless as far as money is concerned.

My mother told me I was begging her to be an actor when I was four. My father and my grandfather saw at least one or two movies a week; they were film buffs, so I guess it just rubbed off on me. And now it's kind of become a way of life for me.

I've been allowed to grow over the past twenty years. I've managed to avoid being trapped in one moment of my career and for that, I'm very thankful.

I'm so critical of myself. I'm actually really, really proud of the film. It's really cool to see a movie at Sundance because everybody is so supportive.

What's sad is that there is an addictive quality to that, to believing your own hype; to allowing yourself to become validated by others and no longer by yourself. That's the danger of celebrity.

You have to take into account it was the cell phone that became what the modern-day concept of a phone call is, and this is a device that's attached to your hip 24/7. Before that there was 'leave a message' and before that there was 'hopefully you're home.'

We went to - I guess it was a legitimate boiler room, and I sat in front of this guy who literally was on the phone with two people at once. They call it double fisting.

I grew up with Scientology - my parents at one point were clerical. It's a pragmatic philosophy, not merely a belief system. Yeah, it's had media exposure because certain luminaries do Scientology, but millions of people do it who are not celebrities. It's not a threat or some cult.

For me, acting is all about the aesthetic. I just want to keep honing my craft. Not that I'm taking myself too seriously, but every artist should consider himself Picasso. Otherwise, you're doing yourself an injustice.

I could almost say it is my religion. I guess that sounds pretentious, but I want to live and breathe cinema.

I just consider myself a committed actor. If a movie is a success, that's great; I'm happy for that. But I've learned just to concentrate on my job and do the best that I can.

I want to be a part of something that's good and intellectually challenging.

I'm really happy with where I am, the movies in my life. Not satisfied, necessarily. But I won't put it on somebody else, blame anybody else for my position in the business. It's the choices I have made.

It was extremely useful to grow up in front of the camera. It gives the camera no significance. I think it helped me have perspective on things. The attraction that Hollywood can have, I feel like I'm over that. Instead I just concentrate on acting.

My mother told me I was begging her to be an actor when I was four. My father and my grandfather saw at least one or two movies a week; they were film buffs, so I guess it just rubbed off on me.

Maybe it's my 15 minutes of fame, maybe it's longer.

The present condition of fame is merely fashion.

The fame aspect of winning the Masters... besides being married and becoming a father, that's a strong third there.

Fame and tranquility can never be bedfellows.

The best people renounce all for one goal, the eternal fame of mortals; but most people stuff themselves like cattle.

I wanted to be an actress. In college I was a serious feminist and very political. I was determined to get one thing out of my career and that was respect. I didn't want money. I didn't care about fame.

I was the executive editor on a little magazine called Greek Accent, whose only claim to fame is that its art director went on to be the art director of Discover for many years.

But once I acclimated and really used fame for what it was offering me as a tool to serve my life purpose of inspiring and contributing, then it started to get fun again.

Every day I work at not taking this fame thing seriously. Fortunately I have a great group of friends who help me do this.

I've experienced as much fame as I ever want to.

There is not in the world so toilsome a trade as the pursuit of fame; life concludes before you have so much as sketched your work.

It was never the fame or fortune that drove me to act. It was something I love and enjoy doing it. A lot of people identify who they are by what they do and that's not me. It's what I do but not who I am. Who I am is a parent. I'm a family man.

I'm the age now that Rock was when he picked me up, so I can understand how he felt - how his fame limited his freedom. You get kinder as you go along.

Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller is the other.

Sometimes I'm uncomfortable with the level of fame I've got! It all depends on the day and what's going on. I don't desire any more fame. I don't need it.

Luckily, thanks to the way my parents taught me, I think I can handle the fame in the right manner.

Ah, who can tell how hard it is to climb the steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar?

Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off.

Socrates' fame spread all over Greece, and the most respected and educated men from all around came to him, in order to enjoy his friendly company and instruction.

Acquaintance lessens fame.

I've written enough books with real celebrities, such as Walter Payton and Hank Aaron and Billy Graham, to know that fame looks good only to people who don't have it.

Honor means that a man is not exceptional; fame, that he is. Fame is something which must be won; honor, only something which must not be lost.

If we should be blessed by some great reward, such as fame or fortune, it's the fruit of a seed planted by us in the past.

Fame makes me feel wanted and loved, anybody wants that.

I don't care about money or fame or anything like that, but it would be a perk.

My career should adapt to me. Fame is like a VIP pass wherever you want to go.

I didn't get into making music for the fame aspect. There are people who do desire that.