I think half the success in life comes from first trying to find out what you really want to do. And then going ahead and doing it.

Life is like a B-picture script! It is that corny. If I had my life story offered to me to film, I`d turn it down.

If you want to know about a man you can find out an awful lot by looking at who he married.

If the good guy gets the girl, it`s rated PG; If the bad guy gets the girl, it`s rated R; and if everybody gets the girl, it`s rated X.

[December 9, 2006] My name is Kirk Douglas. You may know me. If you don`t . . . Google me. I was a movie star and I`m Michael Douglas` dad, Catherine Zeta-Jones` father-in-law, and the grandparents of their two children. Today I celebrate my 90th birthday. I have a message to convey to America`s young people. A 90th birthday is special. In my case, this birthday is not only special but miraculous. I survived World War II, a helicopter crash, a stroke, and two new knees. It`s a tradition that when a "birthday boy" stands over his cake he makes a silent wish for his life and then blows out the candles. I have followed that tradition for 89 years but on my 90th birthday, I have decided to rebel. Instead of making a silent wish for myself, I want to make a loud wish for The World. Let`s face it: The World is in a mess and you are inheriting it. Generation Y, you are on the cusp. You are the group facing many problems: abject poverty, global warming, genocide, AIDS and suicide bombers, to name a few. These problems exist and the world is silent. We have done very little to solve these problems. Now we leave it to you. You have to fix it because the situation is intolerable. You need to rebel, to speak up, write, vote, and care about people and the world you live in. We live in the best country in the world. I know. My parents were Russian immigrants. America is a country where EVERYONE, regardless of race, creed, or age has a chance. I had that chance. You are the generation that is most impacted and the generation that can make a difference. I love this country because I came from a life of poverty. I was able to work my way through college and go into acting, the field that I love. There is no guarantee in this country that you will be successful. But you always have a chance. Nothing should interfere with it. You have to make sure that nothing stands in the way. When I blow out my candles - 90! . . . it will take a long time . . . but I`ll be thinking of you.

I did four movies with [John Wayne]. We were a strange combination. He was a Republican and I was a Democrat. We argued all the time.

[on Michael Moore`s interview with Charlton Heston in Bowling for Columbine (2002)] I cannot forgive the way he treated Charlton Heston. Even if I don`t agree with much of Heston`s politics, Chuck is a gentleman. He agreed to have an interview with Moore, and Moore took advantage of the situation and made Chuck look foolish. He had been invited to Heston`s home and he was treated with courtesy. I winced when I saw the expression on Chuck`s face change as he realized that he had been duped. And yet he remained a gentleman and dismissed the interloper with grace.

John Wayne was a star because he always played John Wayne. Frankly, he wasn`t an excellent actor, but good heavens, what a star! It wasn`t John Wayne who served the roles; the roles served John Wayne.

John Wayne was a great star. But he always played Wayne. Anything else he didn`t regard as manly. Now someone like Burt Lancaster is just the opposite. The living proof that you can be a sensitive actor and macho at the same time.

Linda Darnell is the most unspoilt star on the screen -- and also the most beautiful.

That face she shows the world -- smiling, only talking good, happy, tuned into God -- as far as I`m concerned, that`s just a mask. I haven`t a clue as to what`s underneath. Doris is just about the remotest person I know.

I`ve always believed virtue is not photogenic, and I think I`ve always been attracted to a part, uh, I`d rather play the *evil* character, most of the time, than the nice fella. And I think it really *bothered* my mother, because she would tell people, "You know, my son`s not like that, he`s really a nice boy!"

It isn`t a manly profession. It`s a childish profession. You couldn`t be a complete, grown-up adult and be an actor. ... I mean, if I were a sophisticated adult, how could I say, "Here I am, fighting evil, represented by Yul Brynner"? You have to have a childish part of you! It`s true! You know, I watch as my kids have grown up, I`ve watched, them, you know. Children are natural actors; they pretend they`re cops and robbers, and I think all actors retain a certain amount of that within themselves. They have to, or they can`t function as actors. And that`s why they become self-deprecating. They think, well, it`s not *enough*.

If the good guy gets the girl, it`s rated PG; If the bad guy gets the girl, it`s rated R; and if everybody gets the girl, it`s rated X.

[on Doris Day] That face she shows the world -- smiling, only talking good, happy, tuned into God -- as far as I`m concerned, that`s just a mask. I haven`t a clue as to what`s underneath. Doris is just about the remotest person I know.

My name is Kirk Douglas. You may know me. If you don`t ... Google me. I was a movie star and I`m Michael Douglas` dad, Catherine Zeta-Jones` father-in-law, and the grandparents of their two children. Today I celebrate my 90th birthday. I have a message to convey to America`s young people. A 90th birthday is special. In my case, this birthday is not only special but miraculous. I survived World War II, a helicopter crash, a stroke, and two new knees. It`s a tradition that when a `birthday boy` stands over his cake he makes a silent wish for his life and then blows out the candles. I have followed that tradition for 89 years but on my 90th birthday, I have decided to rebel. Instead of making a silent wish for myself, I want to make a loud wish for The World. Let`s face it: The World is in a mess and you are inheriting it. Generation Y, you are on the cusp. You are the group facing many problems: abject poverty, global warming, genocide, AIDS, and suicide bombers to name a few. These problems exist, and the world is silent. We have done very little to solve these problems. Now, we leave it to you. You have to fix it because the situation is intolerable. You need to rebel, to speak up, write, vote, and care about people and the world you live in. We live in the best country in the world. I know. My parents were Russian immigrants. America is a country where EVERYONE, regardless of race, creed, or age has a chance. I had that chance. You are the generation that is most impacted and the generation that can make a difference. I love this country because I came from a life of poverty. I was able to work my way through college and go into acting, the field that I love. There is no guarantee in this country that you will be successful. But you always have a chance. Nothing should interfere with it. You have to make sure that nothing stands in the way. When I blow out my candles - 90! ... it will take a long time ... but I`ll be thinking of you. (9 December 2006)

[on John Wayne] John Wayne was a star because he always played John Wayne. Frankly, he wasn`t an excellent actor, but good heavens, what a star! It wasn`t John Wayne who served the roles; the roles served John Wayne.

I think half the success in life comes from first trying to find out what you really want to do. And then going ahead and doing it.

Life is like a B-picture script! It is that corny. If I had my life story offered to me to film, I`d turn it down.

I cannot forgive the way he treated Charlton Heston. Even if I don`t agree with much of Heston`s politics, Chuck is a gentleman. He agreed to have an interview with Moore, and Moore took advantage of the situation and made Chuck look foolish. He had been invited to Heston`s home and he was treated with courtesy. I winced when I saw the expression on Chuck`s face change as he realized that he had been duped. And yet he remained a gentleman and dismissed the interloper with grace. - On Michael Moore`s interview with Charlton Heston in Bowling for Columbine (2002)

[on Linda Darnell] Linda Darnell is the most unspoilt star on the screen -- and also the most beautiful.

[on Burt Lancaster] John Wayne was a great star. But he always played Wayne. Anything else he didn`t regard as manly. Now someone like Burt Lancaster is just the opposite. The living proof that you can be a sensitive actor and macho at the same time.

I did four movies with Wayne. We were a strange combination. He was a Republican and I was a Democrat. We argued all the time.

If you want to know about a man you can find out an awful lot by looking at who he married.

I want my sons to surpass me, because that`s a form of immortality.

My kids never had the advantage I had. I was born poor.

I have always told my sons that they didn`t have my advantages of being born into abject poverty.

People are always talking about the old days. They say that the old movies were better, that the old actors were so great. But I don`t think so. All I can say about the old days is that they have passed.

Making movies is a form of narcissism.

I came from abject poverty. There was nowhere to go but up.

In order to achieve anything you must be brave enough to fail.

I`ve made a career of playing sons of bitches.

Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to be a nice guy? To be nothing, that`s what. A big fat zero with a smile for everybody.

I`ve finally gotten away from Burt Lancaster. My luck has changed for the better. I`ve got nice-looking girls in my films now.