It is very hard to cast a number of plays adequately from the same company of actors without several parts being miscast.

Acting is half shame, half glory. Shame at exhibiting yourself, glory when you can forget yourself.

I am all in favour of spontaneity, providing it is carefully planned and ruthlessly controlled.

One's self-image is very important because if that's in good shape, then you can do anything, or practically anything.

Ingrid Bergman speaks five languages and can’t act in any of them.

You can be good in a good movie, you can be good in a bad movie, you can be bad in a bad movie, but never, ever, be bad in a good movie.

I never accept lengthy film roles nowadays, because I am always so afraid I will die in the middle of shooting and cause such awful problems.

Being another character is more interesting than being yourself.

I'm sure there isn't an after-life. If there were, Ivor Novello would have got a message to us.

Most of my friends seem to be either dead, extremely deaf or living on the wrong side of Kent.

When I first went to America in 1928, there were spittoons everywhere. I remember avoiding spit as it flew past me in Times Square. Very unattractive.

Love everyone because everyone is your kin and this universe is your home.

We must conquer every mountain to fulfill the dream.

The universe isn't going to be conquered by legions of geriatrics. No offense.

What we call miracles is just what's supposed to happen. We either go with it or stand in its way.

In case my life should end with the cannibals, I hope they will write on my tombstone, 'We have eaten Dr. Schweitzer. He was good to the end.'

The idea of what it is like to lose everything is awful.

Pen in Barack Obama hands is far more dangerous than any other president, at least in modern history, if not ever.

I probably read 100 times more than I write, but that way when I move my characters through it, I know.

Reconciliation is the fastest way to change your life.

In marriage a little licence, a little independence there must be between people living together day in and day out in the same house.