Kevin Kline Quotes

I think every American actor wants to be a movie star. But I never wanted to do stupid movies, I wanted to do films. I vowed I would never do a commercial, nor would I do a soap opera - both of which I did as soon as I left the Acting Company and was starving.

I think every American actor wants to be a movie star. But I never wanted to do stupid movies, I wanted to do films.

The worth of a life is not determined by a single failure or a solitary success.

Hindsight. It's like foresight without a future.

People ask, 'What's the best role you've ever played?' The next one.

I've got the Jewish guilt and the Irish shame and it's a hell of a job distinguishing which is which.

Nothing makes an actor feel freer and more inventive and more creative than being trusted.

Ambition without contribution is of no significance.

We're all animals, but we're a different sort of animal. Maybe they're better than us. They're more loyal. They're more pure. They're more simple. They're not neurotic. Well, there are some neurotic dogs.

Just because you're not sweating doesn't mean you're not putting in the work.

Don't kiss a man who hasn't shaved.

I see a steady downward slope toward oblivion over the next three years. I'm pessimistic. Everything that's happened to me so far has been kind of flukey. I went into Twentieth Century because I wanted to work for Hal Prince. The part was too small according to my agent. I had been doing only leading parts, and he thought I should continue that. But the part was enlarged in rehearsal: songs were added, and it became more physicalized and showy. Then I won awards and got attention.

Most of the comedies I've done have been rather farcical and extravagant.

I'm a real pushover for animals.

Nobody sees the same movie. I'm sure there are people who saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and thought "Finally a gay movie about men who really care about each other. Thank God!" That's not what I saw necessarily but I don't think any two people see the same movie.

I've never felt completely satisfied with what I've done. I tend to see things too critically. I'm trying to get over that.

Some of my favorite characters that I've played have been very pompous because I love making fun of pompous people.

But you have to trust your instincts. Because you're not going to try it 20 different ways during rehearsal. You'll try it two or three different ways, maybe, but then you've got five other scenes you're shooting that day. You've got to keep going.

I see God as a song-and-dance man. If I had my way, he'd be able to carry a tune, too. Preferably, one of mine.

But, I do think, on a very simplistic level, that we can project onto dogs because they are so innocent. They don't come with a lot of baggage.

Dogs do have feelings. I gather.

I totally related to Cole Porter's magnetic pull to any piano that was in the room, which he was famous for doing, as was Gershwin. You couldn't drag them away from a piano.

I like variety, which is frustrating. But I've always been picky. I was afraid Pirates would be too much like Twentieth Century, broad comedy. But my agent talked me into it. I was spoiled by the range of a repertory theater.

When you have satire, it has to be real. No matter how outrageous the comedy becomes, you have to believe in the characters.

It was all completely incomprehensible to me. I was fearful of the language. You had to look up every third word.