It was an eye opening wakeup call. I got to tell you, our military is in great shape, if there's a perception out there that somehow our Army is tired after 13 years of war, I didn't see it. I saw really committed people who were battle tested and professionals.

Ricky Schroder

Categorized in : Entertainment

There are going to be peaks and valleys in everything - in your marriage, in your job, in your life. So just enjoy the peaks and ride out the valleys. Just try not to do anything too rash.

Ricky Schroder

valleys trying jobs

I spent my whole childhood wishing I were older and now I'm spending my adulthood wishing I were younger.

Ricky Schroder

spending childhood wish

In the John Wayne movies, the Indians were savages that were trying to scalp you. That culture has really suffered because of the stereotype you see in those westerns.

Ricky Schroder

savages trying culture

There's some things that you're passionate about as a director. You just know it has to be a certain way. The challenge is resolving those so everyone is happy and no one feels that they have not been heard.

Ricky Schroder

passionate challenges way

I weren't an actor, I'd be a wildlife biologist or forest ranger.

Ricky Schroder

wildlife actors forests

I think one of the things that saved me is that I never put all my eggs in one basket.

Ricky Schroder

baskets eggs thinking

I feel cheesy when I see Silver Spoons. Some of it was funny, but some of it was just cheese! My kids love it, but I look at it and cringe.

Ricky Schroder

cheesy kids looks

I asked Michael Jackson once. I said to him, 'How were you able to go from the Jackson Five to the biggest star in the world? What was your secret, Michael?' He said, 'Ricky, stay inspired. That's the hardest thing to do. If you can figure out a way to stay inspired, you can make it.'

Ricky Schroder

stars secret world

I don't know why it is, but sometimes I feel like I'm 60. It's like I've been around for a long time. I felt that way even when I was 8.

Ricky Schroder

sometimes long way

I didn't take the reins of my career until I was about 21, and I've been in charge since then.

Ricky Schroder

reins careers

I did a lot of gasoline commercials - Hess, Texaco. I was part of the family in the car, the little brat in the back.

Ricky Schroder

gasoline car littles

I'm just not a quitter and I just never, ever give up. I was forced to adapt because if I didn't, I was losing inspiration only doing what I was doing.

Ricky Schroder

giving-up inspiration losing

I demand excellence from the people I work with.

Ricky Schroder

demand excellence people

I have a career I am proud of as a child actor. I'm not running away from it or embarassed with anything I did.

Ricky Schroder

careers running children

I always knew I was going to be a family man.

Ricky Schroder

family-man men

An actor is like an instrument, tune them, play them the right way.

Ricky Schroder

actors play way

I didn't grow up around wild horses, no. But I've appreciated their beauty and their power ever since I can remember.

Ricky Schroder

horse growing-up remember

My career was full of struggles and dreams, disappointments and peaks and valleys. But there was no Twitter, no Facebook or TMZ. Young actors could make mistakes and not become the focus of tabloids.

Ricky Schroder

disappointment dream mistake

Directing, I just feel comfortable. I know what I want. I know what I want from my crew. I lead by example. I have limitless energy as a director.

Ricky Schroder

energy example directors

I can be tough on actors, but I also let them know early on in our relationship what I expect from them.

Ricky Schroder

our-relationship tough actors