James Dean

An actor should be judged by his performance only.

You can do 'Hamlet' while performing cartwheels... as long as the audience sees your eyes - you can make the performance real.

I think the one thing this picture shows that's new is the psychological disproportion of the kids' demands on the parents. Parents are often at fault, but the kids have some work to do, too.

But you can't show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture. You've got to show what it's really like, and try to reach them on their own grounds.

Being a good actor isn't easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I'm done.

Death can't be considered because, if you're afraid to die, there's no room in your life to make discoveries.

To grasp the full significance of life is the actor's duty; to interpret it his problem; and to express it his dedication.

An actor must interpret life, and in order to do so must be willing to accept all the experiences life has to offer. In fact, he must seek out more of life than life puts at his feet.

If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he's dead, then maybe he was a great man.

My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society.

Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.

To my way of thinking, an actor's course is set even before he's out of the cradle.