Robert De Niro Quotes

- I didn't have a problem with rejection, because when you go into an audition, you're rejected already. There are hundreds of other actors. You're behind the eight ball when you go in there.

- Some people say, "New York's a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." I say that about other places.

- The hardest thing about being famous is that people are always nice to you. You're in a conversation and everybody's agreeing with what you're saying—even if you say something totally crazy. You need people who can tell you what you don't want to hear.

- I left a meeting right after they hit the World Trade Center. I went to my apartment, which looks south, and I watched it out my window. I could see the line of fire across the North Tower. I had my binoculars and a video camera -- though I didn't want to video it. I saw a few people jump. Then I saw the South Tower go. It was so unreal, I had to confirm it by immediately looking at the television screen. CNN was on. That was the only way to make it real. Like my son said: "It was like watching the moon fall.

- When I'm directing a great dramatic scene, part of me is saying, "Thank God I don't have to do that." Because I know how f#%king hard it is to act. It's the middle of the night. It's freezing. You gotta do this scene. You gotta get it up to get to that point. And yet, as a director, you've got to get the actors to that point. It's hard either way.

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

- I've never been one of those actors who has touted myself as a fascinating human being. I had to decide early on whether I was to be an actor or a personality.

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

- (On Taxi Driver's infamous line) "You have no idea that years later, people in cars will recognize you on the street and shout, 'You talkin' to me?' I don't remember the original script, but I don't think the line was in it. We improvised. For some reason it touched a nerve. That happens."

- Some people say that drama is easy, and comedy is hard. Not true. I've been making comedies the last couple years, and it's nice. 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.

- People treat me with a bit too much reverence. Look at Dustin Hoffman. I always envy the way he can speak and be smart and funny and so on. I just can't do that.

Robert De Niro Quotes from Films

- [Vito returns years later to Sicily and meets Don Francesco Ciccio, the man who murdered Vito's family]
- Don Francesco Ciccio: I see you took the name of the town. What was your father's name?
- Vito Corleone: Antonio Andolini.
- Don Francesco Ciccio: You'll have to speak up. I can't hear you.
- Vito Corleone: My father's name was Antonio Andolini... and this is for you. [stabs him]

- Travis Bickle: [Travis is trying his guns on the mirror] Huh? Huh? [Draws]
- Travis Bickle: Faster than you, f#%king son of a... Saw you coming you f#%king... shitheel. [Reholsters]
- Travis Bickle: I'm standing here; you make the move. You make the move. It's your move... [Draws]
- Travis Bickle: Don't try it you f#%k. [Reholsters]
- Travis Bickle: You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking... you talking to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the f#%k do you think you're talking to? Oh yeah? OK.

- Jimmy Conway: I'm not mad, I'm proud of you. You took your first pinch like a man and you learn two great things in your life. Look at me, never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.

- Boss Paul Vitti: [to Dr. Sobel] If I talk to you, and you turn me into a fag... I'm gonna kill you , you understand?