Author

I never understand when people say, 'Do you do comedy or tragedy?' I don't think they're very much different. They both have to be true, and there isn't a great play in the world that doesn't have funny parts to it - as 'Salesman' does, as 'King Lear' does. The whole idea is to reflect life in some way, which means surely you have to have both.

From Mike Nichols

Directing is mystifying. It's a long, long, skid on an icy road, and you do the best you can trying to stay on the road... If you're still here when you come out of the spin, it's a relief. But you've got to have the terror if you're going to do anything worthwhile.

From Mike Nichols

I am drawn to the mystery of marriage. You can never know what the contract is between two people, and that is a very strong subject. I think it may be my subject.

From Mike Nichols

If you want to be a legend, God help you, it's so easy. You just do one thing. You can be the master of suspense, say. But if you want to be as invisible as is practical, then it's fun to do a lot of different things.

From Mike Nichols

I came to love silence, because it's so rare, and it's now my favorite aural condition.

From Mike Nichols

When we talk about reviews, what we are really talking about is just a market report - it's like reading about the new Lexus. You have to know what the guy writing the review cares about to understand his take. Does he like sports cars, or does he like Bentleys?

From Mike Nichols

For a director, a musical is a special kind of hell.

From Mike Nichols

You want to make money, remake 'Cinderella.' You want to move people, remake the Hippolytus and Phaedra myth.

From Mike Nichols

A great thing is happening on cable TV. You see characters change in stories over years, like in Tolstoy. That's a whole, thrilling new form that I really enjoy. They are Tolstoy-an in their endless character development and narrative changes... a show like 'Breaking Bad' is astonishing.

From Mike Nichols

Nerves provide me with energy... It's when I don't have them, when I feel at ease, that's when I get worried.

From Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols

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