Any questions I had about whether a redneck from Oklahoma could become a Brown Classical Philosophy professor ended when I met Tim [Blake Nelson]. Edward Norton More Quotes by Edward Norton More Quotes From Edward Norton The more you can create that magic bubble, that suspension of disbelief, for a while, the better. Edward Norton disbelief suspension magic For me there's always a line or two in a script, when you hit it you almost decide to do the whole movie off a line or two. You almost do it for the fun of getting to say a line or two like that. I don't have any specific plans, you know. I mean, if Seth Rogen calls with a great buddy pic, I'll be there. Edward Norton fun two mean Popularity is the slutty little cousin of prestige, my friend. Edward Norton cousin prestige littles I've observed over and over that people seem to get a much deeper sense of fulfillment out of something they've done as an act of service than out of the things they do for themselves. Edward Norton done inspirational people I think there is a serious corruption in the idea sold through advertising that you can attain spiritual peace through lifestyle and the notion of building your happiness from the outside-in by acquiring things . . . which if you think about it, is the essence of advertising Edward Norton laughter spiritual happiness You always end up getting involved in things because of, you know, the strange things your life brings you into contact with. Edward Norton because-of-you strange ends You can't control everything that comes to you. Edward Norton A lot of why I do something is just the novelty of the experience. Edward Norton novelty A lot of people ask, "What do you pull on in your own life from your character?" In all honesty, it's not something that really works that way for me. I tend to look at these things as an imaginative process and a challenge of imagination and empathy, to some degree. I get much more out of meeting people who have lived these lives than I do digging around in my own limited experiences. Edward Norton honesty character people Well, I don't feel that I've played so many bad guys, and I'm rot really drawn to villains per se. I think a lot of people relate to some of my characters' inner struggles. Edward Norton struggle character thinking I always felt that acting was an escape, like having the secret key to every door and permission to go into any realm and soak it up. I enjoy that free pass. Edward Norton keys secret doors When I think of my background, if I was privileged on any level, it was in terms of the kind of exposure to experience and bohe-mian cultural influence that my parents and my uncles and my grandfather gave me. On both sides I come from an extremely eccentric, artsy, intellectually intense, activist family. Edward Norton uncles parent thinking I don't smoke and I don't want to smoke. I am not a fan of gratuitous smoking in films. Edward Norton fans smoking want The thing I'm absolutely convinced of, no matter how crazy - technological the world is getting, is that people feel more connected through the good works. Entertainment, and the sort of soporific effect it has on people and their stress, is one thing. Edward Norton stress crazy people When you're working on a creative thing, everyone has an idea, and they're pushing it. The first time you work with anybody, you have to get comfortable with the way another person pushes hard for what they want. Edward Norton creative want ideas I'm a New Yorker, you know. Edward Norton new-yorkers knows Most of the movies that I've made that I really felt good about and cared about made very little money anyway, so I'm not particularly worried about people downloading and sharing them. Edward Norton worried littles people Just because you've made a couple movies, you've done some good movies, you've been nominated for some Academy Awards, whatever, nobody's entitled. It's a business. If they don't see it, I can think they're wrong, but I'm not entitled to a $15 million budget to make a film. Edward Norton awards couple thinking I just don't think most of us are aware how much of what we throw away ends up in the ocean, for starters. Plastic bags are among the worst. The US is actually falling behind the curve on that score. China and many other countries have already banned the production and use of thin plastic bags. Edward Norton ocean country fall As we say in the sewer, if you're not prepared to go all the way, don't put your boots on in the first place. Edward Norton perseverance boots way