Tommy Lee Jones Quotations

Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They're underused.

I don't get it. If you're saying, Tommy Lee, you don't fit the image of the East Coast, social elitist wealthy people who comprise Harvard, the only thing I can say is you have no idea what comprises Harvard.

The world's not a very comfortable place if you have a nightmare to face.

Cormac McCarthy's language is perfect. He is in my view the greatest living American prose stylist.

Ethnic stereotypes are boring and stressful and sometimes criminal. It's just not a good way to think. It's non-thinking. It's stupid and destructive.

I always told my children when they whined... Only the boring are bored.

My idea in terms of managing a narrative, or in thinking in my creative life, is that you could easily argue that the past, the present and the future all occur simultaneously, and if you can postulate that, then you're not strictly bound to a linear narrative.

I know a lot of cowboys and I've done a little work on ranches with cattle, and those people become your friends, and keep their word.

I think that no matter how much you don't like yourself or the drama of your life you can still find some comedy in it.

Normal people with normal problems can be hilarious.

The most important question in American cinema, I've learned, is 'When is lunch?'

If military movies were automatically successful we'd make nothing but military movies. But seriously, patriotism is one thing that all Americans have in common.

I have nothing against interviews. I don't pursue them. When people I work for deem it appropriate, I'm perfectly willing to serve.

I'm a believer in belief. Faith is something that works - it causes people to do things, it has results. It's an intangible, indefinable, very real thing. And it moves people, sometimes to atrocity. And sometimes to survival.

As a child of West Texas, I identify with Hispanic culture every bit as much as I do North American culture.

Characters with no integrity are just as interesting as characters with lots of integrity.

I don't do anything that is not fun. I just don't do it.

My home town is very small and very remote and we don't have a movie house.

No director wants to be directed, but no good director... would shy away from the good ideas of others.

The tactic of leading people into... a war that doesn't make any sense by telling them they are under attack, and if they raise any objection they're unpatriotic, is a very old tactic. And it doesn't intimidate me.

Acting is fun for me and it doesn't really matter how, whether it's hard work or easy work, it's always fun.

I want to photograph what I see and put it in a dramatic context. I'm an actor and a writer, and I want to tell these stories and present these shapes, colors and movements as I see them, as I see them serve a narrative. As I see that narrative serve an audience. That's what I want to do.

I personally don't live a nihilistic life, I don't have any use for it.

If you want to know about my politics, the only way to do that is to look at my work.

In the political world, the only position I have is voter. I'm not a spokesman for anything.

I have worked on very good movies that have been buried, and I've worked on some resounding mediocrities that have been paraded through the marketplace like they were masterpieces.

What appeals to me? There are things, points of view, uses of the language, habits of dress, ways of thought and believing that came to me from my grandparents and came to them from theirs. Things that are of good use in any situation, no matter what the future may hold.

As an actor to watch an audience of people howl together in a single mind as a result of work you've done together with friends is a privilege.

I don't play just villains. I like to have parts that are not simply villains.

You can't instruct an audience to laugh, but what you can do is read well and understand the spirit and subtleties, if there are any, in the dialogue.

If you don't hurt anybody or try to steal anything, you'll be fine in the South.

As an actor I want to do as many takes as I can. I wanna shoot the scene... or shoot the shot 'til they make me quit.

I don't think I would describe my sense of humor. Doesn't sound like the kind of thing I'd do.

I enjoy acting more and more than when I was 17.

I fear other actors who are not prepared. And I fear directors who are afraid.

I haven't had a lot of comedy come my way as a performer.

I want to make movies about my country from my point of view.

I've made some bad movies. And I really enjoyed it!

It's no fun to be a struggling young actor. It's a desperate thing, no way to be happy. If you have any alternative, you should take it.

You know, I don't really think you have to play nice guys.

All my life I've had the privilege to make my living with my imagination, and the most important thing has been to see my creative life grow. I was educated to do that and have lived accordingly.

I haven't a clue if there is life on other planets but I'd be charmed if we found a unicellular organism on Mars. It would change our whole concept of life on Earth.

No, I don't think about the myth of the West. It's not the kind of thinking I do. That's more suited to people who live in big towns on the West Coast or East Coast, people who stay under a roof, in a room, all the time.

I've worked with more than 50 directors and I've paid attention since day one. That's pretty much been my education, apart from studying art history and shooting with my own cameras. I've seen 50 different sets of mistakes and 50 different ways of achieving.

Human beings are glorious and preposterous characters.

Age will flatten a man.

Meryl Streep does not make mistakes. Sometimes the world just can't keep up.

I think any stereotyping is too much.

It makes me feel like a very special person, that I'm able to make my living with my imagination. I developed a big respect for my calling while I was in school, and it remains with me to this day.

I look upon pride as a sin.

I don't see people as groups, I see them as individuals.

I try as hard as I can for everything to be different from one movie to the next.

I don't analyze things like titles.

I don't direct movies for a living.

I don't fight anybody anytime or anywhere.

Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow

I've worked with some very good directors and some very bad ones. I learned a great deal from both. From the bad, untalented people, you learn what not to do. And when you work with very highly talented people, you want to emulate them.

I don't consider my private feelings to be relevant in any way, actually.

I'm an actor, I'm always looking for work. I was born to do that.

I want out of each and every one of you is a hard target search, of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area.

I like everything Meryl does. I like watching her come to work.. I don't care.. I like everything about her. I like watching her drink coffee. I don't care what she does.. She can do no wrong in my eyes.

Lose the chrome-plated sissy pistol and get yourself a Glock.

Let me explain something you already know. I'm from Texas and we understand the nature of a border. From what I've seen, vigilant Texans are being ordered to stand down and allow criminals to pass. Mr. President, prepare to see Texans ignoring those orders.