Quotes

“I have an unfortunate personality. I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time.” Orson Welles

“In common with all Protestant or Jewish cultures, America was developed on the idea that your word is your bond. Otherwise, the frontier could never have been opened, 'cause it was lawless. A man's word had to mean something.” Orson Welles

“I've never understood the cult of Hitchcock. Particularly the late American movies... Egotism and laziness. And they're all lit like television shows.” Orson Welles

“When you are down and out something always turns up - and it is usually the noses of your friends.” Orson Welles

“A good artist should be isolated. If he isn't isolated, something is wrong.” Orson Welles

“I passionately hate the idea of being with it; I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time.” Orson Welles

“Now we sit through Shakespeare in order to recognize the quotations.” Orson Welles

“My mother and father were both much more remarkable than any story of mine can make them. They seem to me just mythically wonderful.” Orson Welles

“Only very intelligent people don't wish they were in politics, and I'm dumb enough to want to be in there.” Orson Welles

“Everybody denies I am a genius - but nobody ever called me one!” Orson Welles

“I prefer the old masters, by which I mean John Ford, John Ford, and John Ford.” Orson Welles

“Movie directing is a perfect refuge for the mediocre.” Orson Welles

“One shouldn't ever be conscious of the author as lecturer. When social or moral points are too heavily stressed, I always get uncomfortable.” Orson Welles

“Film is like a colony and there are very few colonists.” Orson Welles

“I am essentially a hack, a commercial person. If I had a hobby, I would immediately make money on it or abandon it.” Orson Welles

“If everyone worked with wide-angle lenses, I'd shoot all my films in 75mm, because I believe very strongly in the possibilities of the 75mm.” Orson Welles

“The laws and the stage, both are a form of exhibitionism.” Orson Welles

“I have made an art form of the interview. The French are the best interviewers, despite their addiction to the triad, like all Cartesians.” Orson Welles

“Ecstasy is not really part of the scene we can do on celluloid.” Orson Welles

“There were centuries when civilization had no theater.” Orson Welles

“There's no biography so interesting as the one in which the biographer is present.” Orson Welles

“The two things you cannot do effectively on stage are pray and copulate.” Orson Welles

“Criminals are never very amusing. It's because they're failures. Those who make real money aren't counted as criminals. This is a class distinction, not an ethical problem.” Orson Welles

“Each multiplex has screens allocated to each studio. The screens need filling. Studios have to create product to fill their screen, and the amount of good product is limited.” Orson Welles

“Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.” Mae West

“Save a boyfriend for a rainy day - and another, in case it doesn't rain.” Mae West

“When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad I'm better.” Mae West

“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.” Mae West

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Mae West

“An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.” Mae West