Clint Eastwood

Nobody looks like they did when they were 20, so why not take advantage of the fact that you're changing, emotionally as well as physically?

To me, life is like the back nine in golf. Sometimes you play better on the back nine. You may not be stronger, but hopefully you're wiser. And if you keep most of your marbles intact, you can add a note of wisdom to the coming generation.

Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have messed with? That's me.

In past generations, people would try to play younger than they really are. My trick is, I don't try to play younger than I really am.

In 'Gran Torino,' I play a guy who's racially offensive. But he learned. It shows that you're never too old to learn and embrace people that you don't understand to begin with. It seems like nobody else got that message, I guess.

The reason I still work at this stage of life is because I enjoy learning something new each day.

You hear about actors being late and all that sort of stuff, but you never find that with an actor who's directed, because an actor who's directed understands all the problems your production is going through.

It's always appealing to play a character that has to overcome himself as well as an obstacle. It makes the drama so much deeper.

I keep working because I learn something new all the time.

I've always felt that if I examine myself too much, I'll find out what I know and don't know, and I'll burst the bubble. I've gotten so lucky relying on my animal instincts, I'd rather keep a little bit of the animal alive.

If you consider film an art form, as some people do, then the Western would be a truly American art form, much as jazz is.

When you work with kids, especially, you want to be ready to turn the camera on at a moment's notice.

Everybody accuses me of moving fast when I direct a picture. I don't move fast, but I just keep moving.

When I'm a director, I look at myself the actor as a completely different person. It's somebody else up there, an actor playing a role. I keep myself out of it.

Winning the election is a good-news, bad-news kind of thing. Okay, now you're the mayor. The bad news is, now you're the mayor.

When I see a story, I ask: is this something I'd like to be in? Is this something I'd like to see? And if I'd like to see it, would I like to tell it?

The prospect of dating someone in her twenties becomes less appealing as you get older. At some point in your life, your tolerance level goes down and you realize that, with someone much younger, there's nothing really to talk about.

My whole life has been one big improvisation.

Tomorrow is promised to no one.

Take your work seriously, but don't take yourself seriously

People love westerns worldwide. There's something fantasy-like about an individual fighting the elements. Or even bad guys and the elements. It's a simpler time. There's no organized laws and stuff.