Joaquin Phoenix: I have not done everything in my power to ensure that...

It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.

Joaquin Phoenix

vegan be-kind animal

We are all animals of this planet. We are all creatures. And nonhuman animals experience pain sensations just like we do. They too are strong, intelligent, industrious, mobile, and evolutional. They too are capable of growth and adaptation. Like us, firsthand foremost, they are earthlings. And like us, they are surviving. Like us they also seek their own comfort rather than discomfort. And like us they express degrees of emotion. In short like us, they are alive.

Joaquin Phoenix

pain strong animal

Is it that your dream is unattainable or is it that you have the wrong dream?

Joaquin Phoenix

unattainable vision dream

When I go out with the ladies, I don't force them to pronounce my name. I tell them I like to go by the nickname of Kitten.

Joaquin Phoenix

kitten nicknames names

My significant other right now is myself, which is what happens when you suffer from multiple personality disorder and self-obsession.

Joaquin Phoenix

personality suffering self

For as long as I've been making movies, I really don't know a lot of the technical side. I mean, I've actively and consciously tried to avoid learning that stuff. I just want to be open and receptive to what's happening in the moment, and I don't want to force anything.

Joaquin Phoenix

stuff long mean

I don't believe in god. I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in soul. I don't believe in anything. I think it's totally right for people to have their own beliefs if it makes them happy, but to me it's a pretty preposterous idea.

Joaquin Phoenix

believe ideas thinking

Do I have a large frog in my hair? I have the sensation that something is eating my brain.

Joaquin Phoenix

frogs brain hair

I don't have the slightest desire to speak over my dead brother. It gets on my nerves to always be compared with him. My brother was a magnificent person and an outstanding actor.

Joaquin Phoenix

actors brother desire

I don't know why I always get to play these guys who have few redeeming features. But don't knock it. Villains are much more fun.

Joaquin Phoenix

guy play fun

The less someone knows about me, the better, because my intention is to play a variety of characters.

Joaquin Phoenix

intention play character

I like working all the time. I hate taking breaks. I don't like the weekends.

Joaquin Phoenix

taking-a-break weekend hate

I'm like the kid that crams for tests and never remembers anything.

Joaquin Phoenix

tests remember kids

I don't know a single person in life that doesn't have conflict.

Joaquin Phoenix

single-person conflict persons

As a nation, this is the moment to start seriously investing our time, energy and resources into proven methods of reducing violence, both within our nation as well as internationally. The cost of violence to our culture and our children is simply not sustainable.

Joaquin Phoenix

energy culture children

I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one fish was caught, he was writhing, then he was thrown against the side of the boat. You couldn't disguise what it was. This was what we did to animals to eat them. The animal went from a living, vibrant creature fighting for life to a violent death. I recognized it, as did my brothers and sisters.

Joaquin Phoenix

fighting brother memories

The reason I keep making movies is I hate the last thing I did. I'm trying to rectify my wrongs.

Joaquin Phoenix

lasts hate trying

I do like to collaborate, and I like hearing other people, and I like how somebody's performance will affect my own.

Joaquin Phoenix

hearing performances people

I think the day that I become comfortable doing interviews and going on talk shows is the day that I don't know what it is to be a human being anymore.

Joaquin Phoenix

interviews shows thinking

I've been in clubs. I don't like being in an enclosed place with really loud music, and a lot of drunk people. It's not my idea of a good time. It's just such a miserable life.

Joaquin Phoenix

drunk people ideas

I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive, i think that it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it, so that's on us.