To a large degree, those early lean days were self-imposed.

I'd much rather turn down a starring role in a bad picture and do a small role in a very good picture.

The fact that I'm going to be unsuccessful at times is pretty well-balanced by the fact that I'm going to be successful at others.

But I did a lot of boxing and I was captain of an Australian surf club.

I was one of the first of the uglies. Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter... were very pretty fellows, and that was the trend. I was one of the first of the uglies to get lucky.

I did well as an actor in Australia, and then Paramount invited me over... to have a look at me.

I am proud to be an actor.

Anyway, when I was a kid, I dutifully went to the Sydney Technical and Fine Arts College.

I'm not doing my work for constant success.

I worked at Mark Foy's during the day and studied drama at night.

When people think it's successful, I'm grateful. When they don't - OK, I'll try again.

He felt a deep urge to put some order in this chaos. Leaning against a large standing-stone by the wayside, he drew out his dreambook and began to write.

Shine with all you have. When someone tries to blow you out, just take their oxygen and burn brighter.

A human being is part of a whole called by us the universe.

He who has wealth has friends and relations; he alone survives and is respected as a man.

Is it treason to say the truth? A bitter truth, but no less true for that.

Don't look at the big picture as the only achievement. Start with set, smart goals and work up to something bigger.

Surely we have always acted; it is an instinct inherent in all of us. Some of us are better at it than others, but we all do it.

I love Topsail Island, which my grandparents helped settle in 1950, despite the racial tensions. I wanted to immortalize my deep connection to this special island forever.

The people are not always well-informed, but is better that they have misconceptions that make them restless than that they be lethargic-for lethargy in the people means death for republics.

With comedy, you really want to work things out beforehand.