Paul Newman Quotes
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The first time I remember women reacting to me was when we were filming Hud in Texas. Women were literally trying to climb through the transoms at the motel where I stayed. At first, it's flattering to the ego. At first. Then you realize that they're mixing me up with the roles I play - characters created by writers who have nothing to do with who I am.
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At the beginning of your career, it's 'Who is Paul Newman?' and then it's 'Get me Paul Newman.' Then it's 'Get me a young Paul Newman.' Then it's 'Who is Paul Newman?'
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I wasn't driven to acting by any inner compulsion. I was running away from the sporting goods business.
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It's always darkest before it turns absolutely pitch black.
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I'm a supporter of gay rights. And not a closet supporter either. From the time I was a kid, I have never been able to understand attacks upon the gay community. There are so many qualities that make up a human being... by the time I get through with all the things that I really admire about people, what they do with their private parts is probably so low on the list that it is irrelevant.
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It's like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years. Finally, she relents and you say, 'I'm terribly sorry. I'm tired.'
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Hollywood is a changing world these days. This is one of the things that ought to be changed.
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The best thing you can give yourselves...is the gift of possibility. And the best thing you can give each other is the pledge to go on protecting that gift in each other as long as you live.
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I cannot bear to look at a film that I made before 1990. Maybe 1985. There's no sense even trying to explain it. I really just can't watch myself. I see all the machinery at work and it just drives me nuts, so I don't look at anything.
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I picture my epitaph: 'Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown.
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The characters I have the least in common with are the ones I have the greatest success with. The further a role is from my own experience, the more I try to deepen it.
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I was always a character actor. I just looked like Little Red Riding Hood.
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Being on President Nixon's enemies list was the highest single honor I've ever received. Who knows who's listening to me now and what government list I'm on?
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Building weapons that we don't need, don't work, and aren't necessary, and have no mission that's not bad politics, that's robbery.
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Fill the moment and find variety.
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I certainly never expected to be a professional actor. I never expected to be in movies. I thought I would probably become a teacher.
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Men experience many passions in a lifetime. One passion drives away the one before it.
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In the early days of films, the movie star in this country replaced royalty. They've been demoted since then but they're still treated as beings larger than life.
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If you have no enemies, you have no character. Taking a stand always creates opposition.
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We all die, just a question of when.
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The spaghetti sauce is a good thing to think about. Morning, noon, and night, think about the spaghetti sauce. Think about hustling other people to buy the spaghetti sauce.
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Watching something is nothing like doing it.
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Acting is like letting your pants down; you're exposed.
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The need is great and so are the opportunities to make a difference.