The characters that I play are real. They are real so they have as much right to be portrayed as any other characters. There are other characters I have played, other than those ones that have been called stereotypes or whatever. So. (His thoughts on the `mobster` characters he portrays in a lot of his movies)

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.

When I was a teenager, I went to the Dramatic Workshop at the New School. The school had a lot of actors under the GI Bill -- Rod Steiger, Harry Belafonte, the generation ahead of me. I went in there and the director said to me, Vy do you vant to be an acteh?" I didn`t know how to answer, so I didn`t say anything. And he said, "To express yourself!" And I said, "Yeah, yeah, that`s it. That`s right."

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. When I`m directing a great dramatic scene, part of me is saying, `Thank God I don`t have to do that.` Because I know how fucking hard it is to act. It`s the middle of the night. It`s freezing. You gotta do this scene. You gotta get it up to get to that point. And yet, as a director, you`ve got to get the actors to that point. It`s hard either way.

After my first movies, I gave interviews. Then I thought, what`s so important about where I went to school, and hobbies ... what does any of that have to do with acting, with my own head?

Al, over the years we`ve taken roles from one another. People have tried to compare us to one another, to pit us against each one another and to tear us apart personally. I`ve never seen the comparison frankly. I`m clearly much taller, more the leading-man type. Honestly, you just may be the finest actor of our generation - with the possible exception of me. (talking about Al Pacino)

(On witnessing 9-11) "I left a meeting right after they hit the World Trade Center. I went to my apartment, which looks south, and I watched it out my window. I could see the line of fire across the North Tower. I had my binoculars and a video camera - - though I didn`t want to video it. I saw a few people jump. Then I saw the South Tower go. It was so unreal, I had to confirm it by immediately looking at the television screen. CNN was on. That was the only way to make it real. Like my son said, `It was like watching the moon fall.`"

You learned the two greatest thing in life, never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut.

There is a certain combination of anarchy and discipline in the way I work.

I think Hollywood has a class system. The actors are like the inmates, but the truth is they`re running the asylum.

Money makes your life easier. If you`re lucky to have it, you`re lucky.

There`s nothing more ironic or contradictory than life itself.

One of the things about acting is it allows you to live other people`s lives without having to pay the price.

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.

If there is a God he has a lot to answer for.

I think Hollywood has a class system. The actors are like the inmates, but the truth is they`re running the asylum. You`ve got to look at the whole studio structure. There`s these guys. We call them suits. They have the power to okay a film. They`re like your parents, going, `We have the money.` But at the same time they say to us actors, `We love you. We can`t do without you.` You know, I`ve been around a long time. I`ve seen the suits run the asylum. I think I can do it as good or even better. Let me try it. That`s why I have TriBeCa. --Chicago Sun- Times, January 8, 1998

Don`t talk it (shooting a scene) away, do it!

(On Taxi Driver`s infamous line) "You have no idea that years later, people in cars will recognize you on the street and shout, `You talkin` to me?` I don`t remember the original script, but I don`t think the line was in it. We improvised. For some reason it touched a nerve. That happens."

It`s true: 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. You might even be able to achieve more if you take your mind off it, because you`re relaxed. That`s the key to it all. When you`re relaxed and confident, you get good stuff.

I love Italy and I have a deep tie with my Italian roots. I stand for Kerry, I hope he will arrive at the White House. We need a different Government to represent America. The change of presidency would be a clear and international sign to say that we are approaching again to the rest of the world. I don`t want any prize that can influence this election. I stand for Kerry. (2004)

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. At this point in my career, I don`t have to deal with audition rejections. So I get my rejection from other things. My children can make me feel rejected. They can humble you pretty quick.

Some people say, `New York`s a great place to visit, but I wouldn`t want to live there.` I say that about other places.

The hardest thing about being famous is that people are always nice to you. You`re in a conversation and everybody`s agreeing with what you`re saying -- even if you say something totally crazy. You need people who can tell you what you don`t want to hear.

I only go to Los Angeles when I am paid for it.

Some people say that drama is easy, and comedy is hard. Not true. I`ve been making comedies the last couple years, and it`s nice. 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.

There is a mixture of anarchy and discipline in the way I work.

You`ll have time to rest when you`re dead.

I am part Italian, I`m not all Italian. I`m part Dutch, I`m part French, I`m part German, I`m part Irish. But my name is Italian and I probably identify more with my Italian side than with my other parts.

People treat me with a bit too much reverence. Look at Dustin Hoffman. I always envy the way he can speak and be smart and funny and so on. I just can`t do that.

"The whole thing is for younger people who are sexy and youthful." - on acting

I`ve never been one of those actors who has touted myself as a fascinating human being. I had to decide early on wether I was to be an actor or a personality.

I don`t like to watch my own movies - I fall asleep in my own movies.

It`s important not to indicate. People don`t try to show their feelings, they try to hide them.

The talent is in the choices.

I go to Paris, I go to London, I go to Rome, and I always say, "There`s no place like New York. It`s the most exciting city in the world now. That`s the way it is. That`s it."