I always figure any fool can learn lines, but what they pay you for is to say 'em better than anybody else can say 'em.

I'm cocky enough, still, to say that the things I do best there isn't anyone in the business that can do them better than I. There are roles nobody can play better than I. It seems awfully immodest, but I have no doubt about it in the world.

Clay Clement told me once, "Are you ready for an absolute truism? I've been working on this for about 40 years and I'm finally ready to pass it on to you". He was doing a picture with Elia Kazan at the time and he said, "Just two days ago I did it again and it worked beautifully. I'll tell you what to do in one sentence when any director says anything to you at any time, 'You just do what you are doing, except a little bit louder'. And if you substitute for the word "loud" [the word] conviction", I think you've got it made. I think that's a lovely piece of advice. He used to always say, "Remember, it's conviction, conviction, conviction. Sweeps all before it. If you're ever in a situation where you're stuck and the theatrical tradition or your own technique doesn't tell you what to do, just make up anything -- within reason -- and then do it with all the conviction in the world and believe me, it'll work".