Philip Seymour Hoffman

Books _ they__e kind of a compulsion for me. To find a great bookstore is a great thing.

I think part of why I have so many books around me and why I read every day is because I mythologize the writer. I don__ do that with any other artists.

Life's pretty funny when you're objectively on the outside looking at it.

I think directors should be confident in their leadership capabilities. I think directors should be confident in what they want to do.

I have a fine level of recognition in the business and among the acting community now, so I consider myself one of the lucky ones. If I didn't think that, there would be something wrong with me. I'm grateful and thankful for what I've got.

Directing is a really kind of amazing thing, because you're helping others and, in the middle of that, you have to worry about yourself.

One person's religion is another person's cult.

I have so much empathy for these young actors that are 19 and all of a sudden they're beautiful and famous and rich. I'm like, 'Oh my God, I'd be dead.'

There is no pleasure that I haven't made myself sick on.

Sometimes being an actor is like being some kind of detective where you're on the search for a secret that will unlock the character.