Richard Dreyfuss quotes

Richard Dreyfuss is an American actor acclaimed for his dynamic roles in film and television. Audiences know him for memorable performances in movies such as "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and "The Goodbye Girl." He has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor. Here are 27 of his quotes:

It must be remembered that the Bush White House has a separate talent for character assassination that must not be confused with a talent for governance. (Richard Dreyfuss)

John Kennedy really did extend the reach of the American people and said, like Lincoln said in a way, that our reach is farther than our grasp - and we should aim high.

Richard Dreyfuss

Civility is not not saying negative or harsh things. It is not the absence of critical analysis. It is the manner in which we are sharing this territorial freedom of political discussion. If our discourse is yelled and screamed and interrupted and patronized, that's uncivil.

Richard Dreyfuss

Happiness has a bad rap. People say it shouldn't be your goal in life. Oh, yes it should.

Richard Dreyfuss

Civics is not only how to run the country before it's your turn to run the country; it is, in fact, the study of power, practical political power. And you must start that process at an age level when kids' brains are still open and malleable.

Richard Dreyfuss

She did the best that we could be; she was perfectly charming and perfectly loving. She was a dream. And she was the kind of dream that you remember when you wake up smiling.

Richard Dreyfuss

I really think that living is the process of going from complete certainty to complete ignorance.

Richard Dreyfuss

It is an obvious and blatant stupidity beyond my ability to articulate how dumb it is for us not to teach our children how to run the government.

Richard Dreyfuss

I didn't understand 3-D in the fifties and I can't say I get it now either. I just don't see what the big deal is.

Richard Dreyfuss

In my experience, it's usually up to the actor how a character is portrayed.

Richard Dreyfuss

When you Google me, you'll find a lot of people don't like Richard Dreyfuss. Because I'm cocky and I present a cocky attitude. But no one has ever disagreed with the notion I represent, that we need more civic education. So far there's 100 percent support for that. (Richard Dreyfuss)

In a way, J.F.K. was the high point of the American dream. In order to go to the moon and back, all we did was say we could - and we did.

Richard Dreyfuss

The bad guy always gets the best scene and the best lines in the film, and they usually get the most days off.

Richard Dreyfuss

There is one solution to all of our problems: Teaching our kids clarity of thought and political representation in democracy. That's it.

Richard Dreyfuss

I decided at age 9, but I was reinforced at age 13 when a teacher told me I had talent. I can't say she really motivated me because I already knew. I knew I had talent. I went to the Jewish community theater and got in plays there. Then I went for the movies.'

Richard Dreyfuss

We mistake politics for legislative debate. You can be passionate without being personal.

Richard Dreyfuss

The rules are all wrong today. The mandate of the media really does pre-date the founding of the United States.

Richard Dreyfuss

I spoke so much about being a manic-depressive. I want to bring everyone back to my earliest memories of this companion of mine. Some people call this companion I have an ailment, or worse a terrible nightmare from which some people cannot awaken. I know that I have nothing to be ashamed of. I have nothing that should garner a stigma.

Richard Dreyfuss

Power never turns power down, ever, unless institutionally demanded.

Richard Dreyfuss

Jaws, first time I saw it, I forgot I was in it. True. Totally forgot, and got as scared as everybody else, and it's a great movie.

Richard Dreyfuss

The happiest I ever been was when I was a struggling actor. I've had big houses and small houses. I always had work available for most of my career. When I actually had to find jobs to make money, that's when I was happy. (Richard Dreyfuss)

I never had a role that I set out for. I always wanted to have a body of work that I'm proud of. Save for two projects, which will never pass my lips, I'm happy with what I've done.

Richard Dreyfuss

If I wasn't an actor, I'd be a teacher, a history teacher. After all, teaching is very much like performing. A teacher is an actor, in a way. It takes a great deal to get, and hold, a class.

Richard Dreyfuss

I don't know what its like for most actors, but really clearly for myself acting has always been the fulfillment of personal fantasies. It isn't just art, its about being a person I've always wanted to be, or being in a situation, or being a hero.

Richard Dreyfuss

I'm nothing if not honest.

Richard Dreyfuss

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Richard Dreyfuss

Richard Dreyfuss - Image

Photo: DreyfussCivic, CC BY-SA 4.0

Occupation: American Actor
Born: October 29, 1947
Quotes count: 27

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