My dad used to say, 'You have to become part of the machine to beat the machine,' and there's some validity in it. But honestly, even when I'm inside…

- Michael Shannon

Plenty of people are onto the emptiness but it takes real guts to see the hopelessness.

- Michael Shannon

That's the great secret of humans: we're all the same person. The best thing to do is just go for the hug.

- Michael Shannon

I've never worried about anything in my life a fraction of the way I worry about my daughter. It's much more than hoping people like the play you're …

- Michael Shannon

If you don't fight the system, you can either take advantage of the system or let the system take advantage of you.

- Michael Shannon

The thing that is always important to me is the relationships. I feel like until I get around with the actual people that I am going to be working wi…

- Michael Shannon

There are so many people who make their fortunes of the misfortunes of others. I don't know if it's because the world is too damn crowded, or what, b…

- Michael Shannon

Theater is the best. That's where you get the work done. You just really get in there and figure something out about a story or a character or life o…

- Michael Shannon

If I were God, I would just be up there scratching my head, thinking, 'What the hell am I supposed to do with this?' For everyone helping an old lady…

- Michael Shannon