James Dean Quotes

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.

What better way to die? It's fast and clean and you go out in a blaze of glory.

Live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse.

Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die today.

If I had one day when I didn't have to be all confused, and didn't have to feel that I was ashamed of everything ... if I felt that I belonged someplace, you know then ...

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

What do we need all that for?If a picture is psychologically motivated, if there is truth in the relationship in it, then I think that picture will do good. I firmly believe Rebel Without A Cause is such a picture.

If zombies were made of bacon, I would only need a couple of fried eggs and a gallon of coffee, and the problem would basically solve itself.

Am I in love? Absolutely. I'm in love with ancient philosophers, foreign painters, classic authors, and musicians who have died long ago. I'm a passionate lover. I fawn over these people. I have given them my heart and my soul. The trouble is, I'm unable to love anyone tangible. I have sacrificed a physical bond, for a metaphysical relationship. I am the ultimate idealistic lover.

At times there seems to be a million ideas worth painting. However, there are days when it's a challenge to pull any idea together. On these days I go to my studio, leaf through an art history book, and tell myself that I am part of this great tradition.

Whatever's inside making me what I am, it's like film. Film only works in the dark. Tear it all open and let in the light and you kill it.

I didn't know what to do. How do you tell an eight-year-old boy his mother's going to die? I tried. In my own stumbling way I tried to prepare Jim for it. Nowadays, he lives in a world we don't understand too well, the actor's world. We don't see too much of him. But he's a good boy, my Jim. A good boy, and I'm very proud of him. Not easy to understand, no sir. He's not easy to understand. But he's all man, and he'll make his mark. Mind you, my boy will make his mark.

Studying cows, pigs and chickens can help an actor develop his character. There are a lot of things I learned from animals. One was that they couldn't hiss or boo me.

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

I can't let in the light.It will destroy my performance like light destroys film

When an actor plays a scene exactly the way a director orders, it isn't acting. It's following instructions. Anyone with the physical qualifications can do that. So the director's task is just that – to direct, to point the way. Then the actor takes over. And he must be allowed the space, the freedom to express himself in the role. Without that space, an actor is no more than an unthinking robot with a chest-full of push-buttons.

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.

Remember: Life is short, break the rules

If you're not afraid, if you take everything you are, everything worthwhile in you and direct it at one goal, one ultimate mark, you've got to get there.

There is no way to be truly great in this world. We are impaled on the crook of conditioning. A fish that is in the water has no choice that he is. Genius would have it that we swim in sand. We are fish and we drown.

I'm not going to go through life with one arm tied behind my back.

Trust and belief are two prime considerations. You must not allow yourself to be opinionated.

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.

I think the prime reason for existence, for living in this world, is discovery.

Racing is the only time I feel whole.

An actual right is something that governments need merely to secure, not to implement.

I also became close to nature, and am now able to appreciate the beauty with which this world is endowed.

Take it easy driving– the life you save may be mine.

If a man can bridge the gap between life and death,if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man. Immortality is the only true success.

I wouldn't like me, if I had to be around me.

How can you measure acting in inches?!?

My fun days are over.

I am trying to find the courage to be tender in my life. I know violence is weakness. Only the gentle are ever really strong.

Treasure is no fun if you can't share it with your friends.

To me, acting is the most logical way for people's neuroses to manifest themselves, in this great need we all have to express ourselves.

Dream as if you will live forever; Live as if you will die today.