I am confident only when I am constantly in motion. Between projects, the doubt creeps in.

I was born William. My father was William. I came from a big family, I hated being called Billy. Willem's a nickname; it's a Dutch name, very common in the Netherlands.

The worst thing is to get involved with people who aren't passionate about what they're doing.

The English Patient' is about the coming together of a French-Canadian nurse, an English patient, a Sikh in a turban and me, Caravaggio, and each of us is seeking a resolution to our own problems.

Great theatre is about challenging how we think and encouraging us to fantasize about a world we aspire to.

I never act. I simply bring out the real animal that's in me.

Sometimes I think women are lucky because they can develop in ways men can't. The old-boy network may be oppressive to women, but it actually stunts men in terms of personal growth.

The mask can be a limitation, but you just deal with it. You do get superhuman strength and pumpkin bombs and all this other stuff to express yourself with.'

You have to lose yourself to find yourself.

Action breeds inspiration more than inspiration breeds action.

I guess they often cast me as the bad guy, because I'm not, er, conventional looking. I look sort of violent. I'm the odd one out, the outsider.

In a war, the first casualty is human dignity.

In summation, like your beloved pet rock, Twitter is useful only in your imagination.

'The Assassination of Jesse James' remains one of my favorite films that I've done. You know, it's still labeled a loser.

If you watch cooking shows on cable, they have lots of British people. Because when you think good cooking, you immediately think Britain.

You know, when you're in public life, everything you do is out there. But I am proud to stand on my record.

To fight aloud is very brave, but gallanter, I know, who charge within the bosom, the Cavalry of Woe.

A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.

Islam appeals to people because it appeals also to reason.

If you're making money people don't think you're playing Jazz. When you're not making money they think you're a great Jazz musician.

All the Cosmic Drama, as it is written in the four Gospels, should be lived inside ourselves, here and now. The isn't something merely historic, it's something to live, here and now!