James Dean quotes

Born
February 8, 1931 Marion, Indiana, U.S.

Died
September 30, 1955.

Occupation
Actor.

James Dean was an American actor.

Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.
– James Dean

An actor must interpret life, and in order to do so must be willing to accept all the experiences life has to offer. In fact, he must seek out more of life than life puts at his feet.
– James Dean

Being a good actor isn’t easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I’m done.
– James Dean

I think the one thing this picture shows that’s new is the psychological disproportion of the kids’ demands on the parents. Parents are often at fault, but the kids have some work to do, too.
– James Dean

Studying cows, pigs and chickens can help an actor develop his character. There are a lot of things I learned from animals. One was that they couldn’t hiss or boo me.
– James Dean

Trust and belief are two prime considerations. You must not allow yourself to be opinionated.
– James Dean

How can you measure acting in inches?!?” (when told he was too short to be an actor) James Dean’s actual height was 5’8.
– James Dean

To me, acting is the most logical way for people’s neuroses to manifest themselves, in this great need we all have to express ourselves.
– James Dean

To grasp the full significance of life is the actor’s duty; to interpret it his problem; and to express it his dedication.
– James Dean

There is no way to be truly great in this world. We are all impaled on the crook of conditioning. A fish that is in the water has no choice that he is. Genius would have it that we swim in sand. We are fish and we drown.
– James Dean

The cinema is a very truthful medium because the camera doesn’t let you get away with anything. On stage, you can even loaf a little, if you’re so inclined.
– James Dean

My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society.
– James Dean

I also became close to nature, and am now able to appreciate the beauty with which this world is endowed.
– James Dean

If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, . if he can live on after he’s dead, then maybe he was a great man.
– James Dean

The only way to make a scene realistic is to do it the way you know it would really happen.
– James Dean

There is no way to be truly great in this world. We are all impaled on the crook of conditioning.
– James Dean

Only the gentle are ever really strong.
– James Dean

I think the one thing this picture shows that’s new is the psychological disproportion of the kids’ demands on the parents. Parents are often at fault, but the kids have some work to do, too.
– James Dean

Trust and belief are two prime considerations. You must not allow yourself to be opinionated. You must say, ‘Wait. Let me see.’ And above all, you must be honest with yourself.
– James Dean

When an actor plays a scene exactly the way a director orders, it isn’t acting. It’s following instructions. Anyone with the physical qualifications can do that.
– James Dean

The cinema is a very truthful medium because the camera doesn’t let you get away with anything. On stage, you can even loaf a little, if you’re so inclined.
– James Dean

Racing is the only time I feel whole.
– James Dean

An actor should be judged by his performance only.
– James Dean

The only greatness for man is immortality.
– James Dean

The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results.
– James Dean

The only way to make a scene realistic is to do it the way you know it would really happen.
– James Dean

I want to be a Texan 24 hours a day.
– James Dean

You try to be yourself, do only what you’ve always done and like to do, and right away, you’re tagged as an oddball.An actor should be judged by his performance only.
– James Dean

There is no way to be truly great in this world. We are all impaled on the crook of conditioning. A fish that is in the water has no choice that he is. Genius would have it that we swim in sand. We are fish and we drown.
– James Dean

You can do ‘Hamlet’ while performing cartwheels… as long as the audience sees your eyes – you can make the performance real.
– James Dean

If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, . if he can live on after he’s dead, then maybe he was a great man.
– James Dean