I'm as flighty as anybody. You put a lot out there. I've been through the process a lot. When I play a major role, it's my instinct to create a nice atmosphere. People in the major roles dominate the tone of an entire film. To my mind, it's much easier to work creatively when everyone's friendly.

John Lithgow

Take care, be kind, be considerate of other people and other species, and be loving.

John Lithgow

be-kind care people

Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug.

John Lithgow

inspiration time funny

I learned the most about myself, and you ask what I learned? Well, I learned my strengths and my weaknesses, and it's far more important to learn about your weaknesses than your strengths.

John Lithgow

wells weakness important

The most exciting acting tends to happen in roles you never thought you could play.

John Lithgow

play motivational inspirational

You kill three people, they call you a murderer. You kill a million people, they call you a conqueror. Go figure.

John Lithgow

politics three people

We should have charity for what the dead say. We may disapprove of what they say, but we should not insult them and revile them knowing they cannot not defend themselves.

John Lithgow

charity knowing should-have

Books make great gifts because they're something you love that you can share.

John Lithgow

something-you-love share book

In animation, there's this exhilarating moment of discovery when you see the film and you say, Oh THAT'S what I was doing.

John Lithgow

film moments discovery

I'm a con artist in that I'm an actor. I make people believe something is real when they know perfectly well it isn't.

John Lithgow

artist real believe

I never get tired of hearing compliments.

John Lithgow

hearing tired compliment

I was in 20 Shakespearean plays by the time I was 20.

John Lithgow

play

I gave up shame a long time ago.

John Lithgow

gave-up shame long

If my life was a play, age 35 was my intermission.

John Lithgow

intermission age play

I went to Princeton High School, when I was very serious about being an artist. I was in a theatre family but I didn't want to become an actor.

John Lithgow

theatre artist school

I got a wonderful college education. I went to Harvard. In those four years I accumulated a lot of knowledge but I also created a kind of habit of learning that has stayed with me my whole life.

John Lithgow

four college years

I'm always being asked to play roles or characters that I don't really resemble.

John Lithgow

roles play character

That's how you deal with stardom; you make it the least important part of your life.

John Lithgow

stardom deals important

Anyone who hears enough laughter and applause at a young age will become an actor, whether they intend to or not.

John Lithgow

laughter actors age

It's my theory that if you hear enough applause and laughter at a young enough age, you're doomed

John Lithgow

laughter enough age

Everybody's a dreamer.

John Lithgow

dreamer dream