I think everyone has some sort of connection to Gatsby as a character... he's created himself according to his own emotions and dreams and lifted himself by his bootstraps from a poor kid in the Midwest and created this image that is The Great Gatsby and it's a truly American story in that regard.

Leonardo DiCaprio

When I was young I used to have this thing where I wanted to see everything I used to think 'How can I die without seeing every inch of this world?'

Leonardo DiCaprio

hate world thinking

Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.

Leonardo DiCaprio

vision real dream

Me, I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know its not some place you can look for because its not where you go. It’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something and if you find that moment, it lasts forever.

Leonardo DiCaprio

forever beach believe

Sometimes you've got to go to the wrong place just to show that you're not afraid to go there.

Leonardo DiCaprio

not-afraid shows sometimes

You can make history, or you will be vilified by it.

Leonardo DiCaprio

There is no element of genius without some form of madness.

Leonardo DiCaprio

elements genius insanity

To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the ultimate tragedy.

Leonardo DiCaprio

risk giving-up believe

It's a weird feeling when people are defining you, and you haven't even defined yourself.

Leonardo DiCaprio

defining feelings people

I'm still exploring in a lot of ways. I don't know myself completely.

Leonardo DiCaprio

stills knows way

Sometimes I wonder will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other? Then I look around and I realize God left this place a long time ago.

Leonardo DiCaprio

forgiveness god long

People want you to be a crazy, out-of-control teen brat. They want you miserable, just like them. They don't want heroes; what they want is to see you fall.

Leonardo DiCaprio

teenage crazy fall

You see, I think negative emotions are always trumped by positive emotions.

Leonardo DiCaprio

emotion negative thinking

If you can do what you do best and be happy, you're further along in life than most people.

Leonardo DiCaprio

being-happy happiness inspirational

If we do not act together, we will surely perish.

Leonardo DiCaprio

climate-change ifs together

A single idea from the human mind can build cities. An idea can transform the world and rewrite all the rules.

Leonardo DiCaprio

cities mind ideas

I've always been spontaneous and outgoing... I've tried lots of things so I've got some good life experiences, which is great 'cause it means I've got lots of material to work with as an actor.

Leonardo DiCaprio

good-life actors mean

I became an actor at a very young age, but I also had a deep respect for nature and I think I was sort of a little biologist when I was younger. I watched documentaries on rainforest pollution and the loss of species and habitats for animals around the world. It affected me in a very hardcore, emotional way when I was younger. So, later in life I wanted to continue that path more and investigate and learn more about ecological issues.

Leonardo DiCaprio

emotional loss thinking

Global warming is not only the number one environmental challenge we face today, but one of the most important issues facing all of humanity... We all have to do our part to raise awareness about global warming and the problems we as a people face in promoting a sustainable environmental future for our planet.

Leonardo DiCaprio

issues numbers people

School, I never truly got the knack of. I could never focus on things I didn't want to learn.

Leonardo DiCaprio

knack focus school

A man's legacy is determined by how the story ends.

Leonardo DiCaprio

dying men death