Jeff Daniels Quotes

Are we just pretending to be unhappy so that we can add drama to our lives, so that we seem more substantial?

Television in the last few years has been where all the great writers are going. TV now is what indie film used to be.

Nothing seems to matter but ourselves. That's not how I was brought up. I don't recognize the country I live in anymore.

I think we have the attention span of a gnat. You know, with cell phones and Twitter.

We're all capable of anything as human beings. Any emotion, any action. We really are.

Working with Jim Carrey is an absolute gas. I have never laughed so hard for so long. Had he been on-board for the sequel of Dumb & Dumber, I would've jumped on, with no hesitation.

I was haunted by trainers going "Up, up, up, get up." You find yourself picking your head up and then realizing, They aren't talking to me.

Comedy is hard to do. All the cliches about it are true.

I think Michigan keeps you sane and on an even keel through the ups and downs. In Michigan, I do fireworks, shovel snow and live life.

You can't rewrite nothing, but you can rewrite 90 pages of sh*t. Now you've got your sh*t on the page, you can go work.

Give me good writing, and I'll play it all day.

I just never did buy this idea that you have to live in Los Angeles to be an actor. I didn't see that as a requirement in my job description.

I think the American electorate should work a little harder at getting informed. That includes hearing, truly listening, to what the other side is saying. Whether you're left or right.

I think it's a style of acting that you trust. You trust the instincts.

Well, the music industry is littered with actors who belatedly came to singing.

I love the theater, but if I had to choose, I would choose a film at this time in my life. Something meaty, to sink my teeth into.

One of the more noble things the Oscars can do is pay attention to movies no one knows about. Blockbusters don't need much help.

I love living in Michigan, which has been great for my kids and my family.

On cable now, the writer is king. Any actor chases that.

Every actor just wants good writing.

And the actors tend not to want to watch themselves very often. I'm one of those guys.

I know I'm not bipolar or schizophrenic, but this career allows you to explore, to take some facets of yourself and spin it.

There's not a single job in this town. There's nothin', nada, zip. Unless you wanna workforty hours a week.

I also write plays, so I understand the writers mind, and how obsessed you can get writing.

I have done all of the genres, and the dramatic role is my favorite.

I never starved. And you know, whatever talent I have, I've relied on that, versus image or star.

I don't watch dailies. I don't pretend not to read reviews, I just don't. I wait for it to come on the air, just like everybody else.

I'm the guy to call. Look at the resume. I have kids of my own. I have dogs.

There are so many projects that you go into hoping the story works, and here comes a new third act and that kind of thing.

Everything’s a story, kid. Stories are what help us make sense of the world.

I went to Walter Reed hospital a couple of times to visit wounded soldiers, kids with no legs and one arm. You start to question some things.

I learned a long time ago that the show you're going to see isn't the one you have in your head. As soon as you understand that, you're going to enjoy it a lot more.

You know, its really strange now with the Internet, with everyone having an unsolicited, anonymous opinion.

There is no best anything in art.

Stars don't want to have flaws. Stars like to be likable.

I never said, 'I'm going to be a big star.' I said, 'I'm going to be a good actor.' And that took the pressure off.

The biggest compliment I think an actor can get is I can't imagine anyone else in the role.