Jack Nicholson

I sort of understood that when I first started: that you shouldn't repeat a success. Very often you're going to, and maybe the first time you do, it works. And you love it. But then you're trapped.

I'm Irish. I think about death all the time.

Frankly, I got into the movies because I like the movies a lot.

In other words, I wouldn't like to be an actor if I could only be real. I like to get wild, behaviorally wild, and it's crazy to think of any form where it's just one way.

In my last year of school, I was voted Class Optimist and Class Pessimist. Looking back, I realize I was only half right.

My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch.

I've been too many places. I'm like the bad penny.

Acting is everybody's favorite second job.

What's beautiful is all that counts, pal. That's ALL that counts.

It's a slight stretch of the imagination but most people are alike in most ways so I've never had any trouble identifying with the character that I'm playing.

In this industry, there are only two ways up the ladder. Rung by rung or claw your way to the top. It's sure been tough on my nails.

I hate giving advice, because people won't take it.

When I am cast in a movie where I feel that the woman's part is more interesting, I usually start thinking about Spencer Tracy and Fred Astaire. They seem to be the most clear actors when working with women.

Played tennis for years. But you can't improve at tennis after you're 50. You get to be in your 40s, and suddenly you're a doubles player.

Just let the wardrobe do the acting.

I always knew there wasn't going to be anybody to help me and emotionally support me, that whatever I did I'd have to do on my own.

I think that's what distinguishes Schmidt, really. In the movies now, so much of what is appealing to an audience is the dramatic or has to do with science fiction, and Schmidt is simply human. There's no melodrama; there's no device, It's just about a human being.

Im the last guy in the world to feel overlooked by the Academy.

I am a person who is trained to look other people in the eye.

I never had a policy about marriage. I got married very young in life and I always think in all relationships, I've always thought that it's counterproductive to have a theory on that.

We are going as fast as we can as soon as we can. We're in a race against time, until we run out of money.

I have a lot of vanity.

I don't think many people have a very good understanding of leisure and the importance it plays in our lives.

The only way to break a bad habit was to replace it with a better habit.

A star on a movie set is like a time bomb. That bomb has got to be defused so people can approach it without fear.

Well, a younger woman is a type, but not necessarily a type for me. And what is a younger woman? I mean, I'm pretty old. Almost everyone is younger.

I'm not hard to get along with.

My motto is: more good times.

I'm an actor who they said was wrinkled and balding and everything else when I was in my early 30's. Most of the people who wrote that who thought they were younger than me are now bald and wrinkled.

Most of the early part of an actor's career, you do the jobs you get.

There is no way you can get people to believe you on screen if they know who you really are through television.

I'll tell you one thing: Don't ever give anybody your best advice, because they're not going to follow it.

With my sunglasses on, I'm Jack Nicholson. Without them, I'm fat and 60.

You only lie to two people in your life, your girlfriend and the police.

Theres only two people in your life you should lie to... the police and your girlfriend.

I know I can act. There aren't too many other jobs I know how to do.

I'm content with the fact that I made a decent effort. That's what I've always worried about: that I wouldn't try hard enough.

I like to not care that much about criticism, but I do care about it.

I don't have any fear of intimacy, but rather thrive on it, which is rare in a public person.

I am a person who is trained to look other people in the eye. But I can't look into the eyes of everyone who wants to look into mine; I can't emotionally cope with that kind of volume. Sunglasses are part of my armor.

When I was in high school, I earned the pimple award and every other gross-out award.

Because you know, down deep in my heart, when all is said and done, I still live under the illusion that basically people think of me as an up-and-coming young actor.

There's only two people in your life you should lie to... the police and your girlfriend.

The blues and jazz will live forever. So will the Delta and the Big Easy.

Early on, if I was alone two three nights in a row, I'd start writing poems about suicide.

Financially, I've lost money and made money, but I know my way around financially.

I'm a New Wave baby, so I got very stimulated by foreign film.

I've never been able to say I've been influenced by a list of artists I like because I like thousands and thousands and I've been influenced in some way by all of them.

Beer, it's the best damn drink in the world.

If you get an impulse in a scene, no matter how wrong it seems, follow the impulse. It might be something and if it ain't - take two!

I don't have any plugs or tucks but people do what they want. I look at it as mutilation.

I learned a long time ago in Hollywood that the only person I should vote for is myself.

Well, I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I haven't been a rogue most of my life.

Age is the first limitation on roles that I've ever had to encounter, and I hit that awhile ago.

I only take Viagra when I'm with more than one woman.

My whole career strategy has been to build a base so that I could take the roles I want to play. I'd hate to think that a shorter part might not be available because I was worried about my billing.

I don't want people to know what I'm actually like. It's not good for an actor.

What's beautiful is all that counts, pal. That's all that counts.

The minute that you're not learning I believe you're dead.

Well, a girlfriend once told me never to fight with anybody you don't love.

I'm the last guy in the world to feel overlooked by the Academy.

The blues and jazz will live forever... So will the Delta and the Big Easy.

My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch

People who speak in metaphors should shampoo my crotch.

One of my school friends' parents owned a minigolf course, and a bunch of us kids would play there all day in the summer. Two-under deuces was a good score.

I used to think that one of the great signs of security was the ability to just walk away.

Once you've been really bad in a movie, there's a certain kind of fearlessness you develop.

A lot of people can't remember things because they weren't actually there to begin with - they don't take it all in.