James Woods Quotes

The silent killer of all great men and women of achievement - particularly men, I don't know why, maybe it's the testosterone - I think it's narcissism. Even more than hubris. And for women, too. Narcissism is the killer.

I'm absolutely gonna win it, because I'm ruthless. I sit at the poker table and my job is to destroy people.

I was able to lean on people for favors and things to help out because their budget was so low. It was half of what John Travolta's perk package is on a film. Our whole budget was half of what his staff makes on a film.

The lifeblood of my career has been independent film.

The press is like a big bass, you just stick a hook in their mouth and they'll take it.

Sometimes the way you respond to horrific, evil deeds is the measure of one's self as a man, as a nation, as people, as a community.

Because of who I am, when I sit at a poker table, I meet people who engage me in conversation, not only about poker, but also about the movie business and about the world of celebrities.

I think that the economy, and the political system, has literally become such a disaster I don't know if it's possible to save it.

Simple logic tells you that if somebody wants you dead you have one course of action: To get them deader sooner.

Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not doing your job.

So you can say whatever you want and quote me however you want about politics and make the next payday, and that's fine because I'm making that deal with you, but just mention the movie along the way, OK?

The whole world has gone back to something we are genetically engineered to do - communicating through symbols.

If [the 9/11/01 attacks] had happened to the Russians, about three major cities in the Middle East would have been parking lots in twenty minute and they wouldn't have worried about the consequences because there would not have been any because the remaining terrorist states would have said 'we get the message.'

Look, just go sit at the card table with the rest of the kids and let the adults run the country.

If I say I'm the best actor for the part, I mean it and I'm not kidding.

My biggest problem in live games is that I love the game so much and I don't think I ever met a poker player I didn't fundamentally like - even if they're screaming and they're acting like real jerks.

I've had wonderfully lucrative offers to do another network series. I could do that again and have a very luscious retirement.

When I was in high school, we were all laboring under the illusion, or maybe it was a reality, that everyone in our school was a virgin.

I always have a rule that acting is acting and truth is truth and you just go out there and you do it. But what happens in each medium is that you have other responsibilities. The acting remains the same, but each medium dictates assuming other halves to make the acting work.

I think the iPhone was as significant an invention as the Gutenburg press, in terms of the future of humanity.

The only reason people lock their car doors when Obama walks by is they are afraid he'll tax them to death ...

Do you think I want to be the one lone voice against the Hollywood liberal establishment? It's not going to do me any good.

I am one of those guys who could do the most emotional scene and crack a joke instantly. I'm lucky. I'm just like an idiot savant. I have one enormously enjoyable, pleasurable - for me - talent, which is being able to act.

I'm famous for being nicer to my fans than anyone on the face of the Earth because I figure a) They pay my salary, and b) It's probably like a big moment in your life to meet somebody so I would say, just come on up.

Give Bush 10 minutes before you hammer him. I think he's going to surprise people. He sounds simple and uncomplicated, but maybe that's what we need now. He's not as stupid as everyone thinks. I like the guy.

We work in an environment where your options are to do, you know, Batman 10, so when you get to do a movie that's a really great film like this, people really step up to the plate and enjoy it.

Just curious. Does the president of the United States have any advice for other teenage boys in America? Wounded warriors, for example ...

It is okay to fall, but not okay to stay on the ground.

Celebrity - I don't even know what that means. Obviously it's the same basic word as celebration, but I don't know what's being celebrated.

Here's what I believe a soul is - at least this, I believe it's at least this. I believe that every kindness that we create in our lives, if it came because we were affected by a person we loved and lost, that person lives through that kindness. That's what a soul is.

No matter what it is, if you get 10 people in the business talking about something, you get 10 different opinions, but you know, they're amazingly well informed.

Whatever it took to get elected president of the United States, I don't think being a complete and utter moron is one of those predicates.

It's a great battle, and it really is a battle, and there are people from all walks of life, you know, never judge anybody at the table: A man can be the greatest poker player and he might know all the numbers, but he might get beaten by a really savvy kid who works in a grocery store; and that's what's so great about this game.