Discover 72 timeless Robert De Niro quotes that showcase his journey from Raging Bull to becoming an inspirational icon. Dive into the wisdom and profound insights shared by this Hollywood legend. Whether you’re seeking motivation, inspiration, or a glimpse into De Niro’s brilliant career, these quotes will leave a lasting impact. Explore the words that have defined De Niro’s success and find inspiration for your own life.
Robert De Niro Quotes
1- “I certainly know the difference between right and wrong.” -Robert De Niro
2- “Time goes on. So whatever you’re going to do, do it. Do it now. Don’t wait.” -Robert De Niro
3- “Loneliness has been following me my whole life.” -Robert De Niro
4- “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” -Robert De Niro
5- “Everyone’s always interested in a dark theme, especially when there’s humor connected to it. It seems like that helps, if that’s an integral and organic part of the whole story.” -Robert De Niro
6- “When you make a movie, everyone should leave their own personal problems at home. When they start bringing those to set, filming can be very difficult. You don’t need any extra drama. Put the drama into the story, in the characters.” -Robert De Niro
7- “Good directors can bring certain things out of you, with their intensity or gentleness or sensitivity or understanding. They can make an actor feel he can do no wrong.” -Robert De Niro
8- “You never know what you do that could be totally out of left field, which actually might work and give something fresh to the whole scene, to the character, whatever. If you have that with a director who then knows how to shape it, either in the direction, in the moment, or in the editing, then that’s good.” -Robert De Niro
9- “In acting, I always try to go back to what would actually be the real situation, the real human behavior in life.” -Robert De Niro
10- “The mind of a writer can be a truly terrifying thing. Isolated, neurotic, caffeine-addled, crippled by procrastination, consumed by feelings of panic, self-loathing, and soul-crushing inadequacy. And that’s on a good day.” -Robert De Niro
11- “You draw on whatever’s relevant to the part you’re playing. It makes it more personal.” -Robert De Niro
12- “You don’t have to rush to do anything.” -Robert De Niro
13- “I don’t get into these long-winded heavy discussions about character – do we do this or that or what. At the end of the day, what you gotta do is just go out there and do it.” -Robert De Niro
14- “I have so much respect for directors. It’s a tremendous amount of pressure; you have to keep steadfast and keep what you know is right.” -Robert De Niro
15- “I always wanted to direct. Directing is a lot more of a commitment though, a lot more time. I like directors who do very few takes, they know what they want.” -Robert De Niro
16- “When you love someone you gotta trust them, there’s no other way. You gotta give them the key to everything that’s yours. Otherwise, what’s the point?” -Robert De Niro
17- “I can get around pretty easily. People don’t expect to see me walking around.” -Robert De Niro
18- “The talent is in the choices.” -Robert De Niro
19- “Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?” -Robert De Niro
20- “Life rarely changes you totally but it consistently changes you in details.” -Robert De Niro
21- “The director respects what they’ve hired you for and chosen you for: to do the part and respect what you’re doing.” -Robert De Niro
22- “You don’t need words to express feelings.” -Robert De Niro
23- “You always learn something about movies. Directing or acting, there’s always something new. It’s the technological thing; there’s always something to learn.” -Robert De Niro
24- “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.” -Robert De Niro
25- “Auditions are like a gamble. Most likely you won’t get the part, but if you don’t go, you’ll never know if you could’ve got it.” -Robert De Niro
26- “When you’re out there, at the same time you gotta be ready for anything.” -Robert De Niro
27- “You don’t just play a part. You’ve got to earn the right to play it.” -Robert De Niro
28- “Reputation, you know – a lifetime to build, seconds to destroy.” -Robert De Niro
29- “As a kid I didn’t root for the bad guys.” -Robert De Niro
30- “Any depression should be met with a smile. Depression will think you are an idiot and will run away.” -Robert De Niro
31- “Things rarely turn out the way we want them to.” -Robert De Niro
32- “Feeling a little bit alive is a lot better than just waiting to die.” -Robert De Niro
33- “I spent lunchtime in a grave during the filming of ‘Bloody Mama.’ When you’re younger, you feel that’s what you need to do to help you stay in character. When you get older, you become more confident and less intense about it – and you can achieve the same effect.” -Robert De Niro
34- “You learned the two greatest things in life, never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut.” -Robert De Niro
35- “I always enjoy coming to Israel. Israelis are warm, they’re energetic people. Forthright. Very smart. I always like smart people. They’re nice people, you know. Aggressive, and I respect that aggressiveness because you need it in their situation.” -Robert De Niro
36- “When you feel that you can’t fight it, you just go for it.” -Robert De Niro
37- “I think it’s important to have had at least a few years of obscurity, where people treat you like everybody else.” -Robert De Niro
38- “When you are working hard, you don’t have time for anything other than what you are doing.” -Robert De Niro
39- “Movies are hard to make, and you have to work toward a common ethic and do your best. You don’t want to work with people who don’t care or who are acting out some neurotic, crazy thesis on the set.” -Robert De Niro
40- “Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt.” -Robert De Niro
41- “The hardest thing about being famous is that people are always nice to you.” -Robert De Niro
42- “Better to be king for a night than a schmuck for a lifetime.” -Robert De Niro
43- “I don’t remember what made me want to be an actor. In fact, I’m always curious.” -Robert De Niro
44- “If it’s the right chair, it doesn’t take too long to get comfortable in it.” -Robert De Niro
45- “Sometimes if you have financial restraints, it’s a benefit. It forces you to come up with a more creative way.” -Robert De Niro
46- “If you don’t co-operate you’re gonna suffer from fistophobia.” -Robert De Niro
47- “I guess the only thing to do now is meet his parents. I’m sure they’re decent people. I mean they gotta be if they named their son Gaylord Focker.” -Robert De Niro
48- “I mean, the actors that I admired were Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, an actress named Barbara Harris. And Greta Garbo. They were great actors.” -Robert De Niro
49- “Movies are hard work. The public doesn’t see that. The critics don’t see it. But they’re a lot of work. A lot of work.” -Robert De Niro
50- “As I get older, I think that things have been pre-determined for me, whether I liked it or wanted it, wished for it, whatever, way before in some way. And with others, you do have a choice that you can change. And that choice that you make is still part of this grand scheme.” -Robert De Niro
51- “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.” -Robert De Niro
52- “I think Hollywood has a class system. The actors are like the inmates, but the truth is they’re running the asylum.” -Robert De Niro
53- “Ok let me explain, if you were bitten by a mad infected dog, who will you blame? the dog or its owner? Definitely the owner, so, all the blame is on the USA Government’s shoulders for adopting and supporting a state like Israel.” -Robert De Niro
54- “Everybody’s in New York and, hopefully, my younger kids will go to college in New York and find something they want to do so they’ll stay in the city.” -Robert De Niro
55- “If De Niro wants to spend the twilight of his career as the McDonald’s of master thespians, we can’t stop him.” -Robert De Niro
56- “In civilized societies, we spend our lifetimes trying to become what is socially acceptable. We’re dark and we’re light. We all have both sides to us.” -Robert De Niro
57- “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.” -Robert De Niro
58- “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.” -Robert De Niro
59- “Passion should always trump common sense.” -Robert De Niro
60- “I love to find new people. It’s not for the sake of their being new; it’s because if you find someone who perfectly fits a part, that’s such a great thing.” -Robert De Niro
61- “Thank God for the rain to wash the trash off the sidewalk.” -Robert De Niro
62- “My mother worked for a woman, Maria Ley-Piscator, who with her husband founded the Dramatic Workshop, which was connected to the New School. My mother did proofreading and typing and stuff or her, and as part of her payment, I was able to take acting classes there on Saturdays when I was 10.” -Robert De Niro
63- “It’s important not to indicate. People don’t try to show their feelings, they try to hide them.” -Robert De Niro
64- “I have to be able to trust you with my life. Do you understand?” -Robert De Niro
65- “One regret I have: I didn’t get as much of the family history as I could have for the kids.” -Robert De Niro
66- “There is only one way to gain access to the truth and that is to not expect anything.” -Robert De Niro
67- “New York is more exciting, I guess, than even Paris or London. New York’s the center of something; I don’t know what, really – the center of a lot of things. With all its problems and chaos and craziness, it’s still a great place to live. I can’t see myself living anywhere else.” -Robert De Niro
68- “Money makes your life easier. If you’re lucky to have it, you’re lucky.” -Robert De Niro
69- “As an actor who’s starting out, you can’t say, “Hey, I’m too good for this.” You gotta do it, because people see you, your name gets around, and it has a cumulative effect.” -Robert De Niro
70- “In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all…” -Robert De Niro
71- “There is a certain combination of anarchy and discipline in the way I work.” -Robert De Niro
72- “I always tell actors when they go in for an audition: Don’t be afraid to do what your instincts tell you. You may not get the part, but people will take notice.” -Robert De Niro
