Author

What would my parents think about America if they arrived here today? Would they even want to come? I wonder.

I didn't think I was so tough until I did 'Champion'; then I was a tough guy.

Listen - pacemaker, crash, stroke. What does it mean? God doesn't want me now. That's all.

All children are natural actors, and I'm still a kid. If you grow up completely, you can never be an actor.

My first job was on Broadway. Then I went into the Navy. When I came out of the Navy, I went back to Broadway and a friend of mine, Lauren Bacall, was in Hollywood filming with Humphrey Bogart. She told one of her producers I was great in my play, and he saw it and cast me in 'The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'.

From Kirk Douglas

My four sons all knew I was a Jew, but they were allowed to be whatever they wanted to be. The only thing important to me was that they be good people who help other people, because all religion should try to make you a better person and a more caring person. Whenever religion does that for you, it's a good religion.

From Kirk Douglas

All my life, I have taken inventory at intervals. For example, when I became a movie actor and suddenly I had to deal with fame, money and playing so many roles, I lost myself. I said, 'Who am I?' And I wrote my first book to deal with that, 'The Ragman's Son.'

From Kirk Douglas

God bless Dad, he came to every one of my shows. I was bad, and I had horrible stage fright. My dad was so relieved - he'd say, 'You were terrible; this kid is not going to be an actor.' Finally, I did a play and he said, 'Son - you were really good.'

From Kirk Douglas

I came from abject poverty. There was nowhere to go but up.

From Kirk Douglas

People are composed of many things, and in my work, what influences me is the complexity of people - the chiaroscuro of dark and light. When I play a strong guy, I try to find, where is he weak? And, conversely, when I play a weak guy, where is he strong?

From Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas

Notable Quotes

Authors with Similar Views

John Mayer

Joyce Carol Oates

Julian Schnabel

Ed Westwick

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Authors with Opposing Views

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Aimee Mullins

Alan Jay Lerner

Alan Zweibel

Aleksandr Kuprin