Quotes from Robert De Niro

I have to be able to trust you with my life. Do you understand?

There is only one way to gain access to the truth and that is to not expect anything.

With 'Silver Linings,' I didn't feel - I was thinking of certain things, but I just said, 'Let me go with it.' You have to know what you're doing, where you're going with the scenes, and I put a lot of work into that. But when you're out there, at the same time you gotta be ready for anything.

It's important not to indicate. People don't try to show their feelings, they try to hide them.

I think Hollywood has a class system. The actors are like the inmates, but the truth is they're running the asylum.

I always go back to how people behave. If you watch how people actually behave in a situation, it's very simple and honest and contained. You don't need to use as much expression, as much feeling. Some characters will boil over, and that's another thing, but a lot of times I think you can just do very, very little.

There's nothing more ironic or contradictory than life itself.

Italy has changed. But Rome is Rome.

When you make a drama, you spend all day beating a guy to death with a hammer, or what have you. Or, you have to take a bite out of somebody's face. On the other hand, with a comedy, you yell at Billy Crystal for an hour, and you go home.

I go to Paris, I go to London, I go to Rome, and I always say, 'There's no place like New York. It's the most exciting city in the world now. That's the way it is. That's it.'

I think it's important to have had at least a few years of obscurity, where people treat you like everybody else.

I have so much respect for directors. It's a tremendous amount of pressure; you have to keep steadfast and keep what you know is right.

When you are working hard, you don't have time for anything other than what you are doing in the scene and what the director wants.

I spent lunchtime in a grave during the filming of 'Bloody Mama.' When you're younger, you feel that's what you need to do to help you stay in character. When you get older, you become more confident and less intense about it - and you can achieve the same effect.

I don't remember what made me want to be an actor. In fact, I'm always curious.

Everybody's in New York and, hopefully, my younger kids will go to college in New York and find something they want to do so they'll stay in the city

I always say people can call me anything they want as long as they don't call me late for supper.

I always wanted to direct. Directing is a lot more of a commitment though, a lot more time. I like directors who do very few takes, they know what they want.

Better to be king for a night than a schmuck for a lifetime.

My definition of a good hotel is a place I'd stay at.

I always tell actors when they go in for an audition: Don't be afraid to do what your instincts tell you. You may not get the part, but people will take notice.

Movies are hard to make, and you have to work toward a common ethic and do your best. You don't want to work with people who don't care or who are acting out some neurotic, crazy thesis on the set.

There is a certain combination of anarchy and discipline in the way I work.

When you feel that you can't fight it, you just go for it. When it comes to the arts, passion should always trump common sense.