JACK NICHOLSON: My point of view, while extremely cogent, is unpopular. LOS ANGELES TIMES: Which is? JACK NICHOLSON: That the repressive nature of the legalities vis-a-vis drugs are destroying the legal system and corrupting the police system. LOS ANGELES TIMES: Let's talk about acting for a minute.

Jack Nicholson

I love discourse. I'm dying to have my mind changed. I'm probably the only liberal who read Treason, by Ann Coulter. I want to know, you understand? I like listening to everybody. This to me is the elixir of life.

Jack Nicholson

dying listening mind

There's no point dwelling on what might or could have been. You just have to go forward.

Jack Nicholson

dwelling attitude might

A lot of people in the middle of their lives have a secret yearning for more romance.

Jack Nicholson

romance secret people

I'm very contra my constituency in terms of abortion because I'm positively against it. I don't have the right to any other view. My only emotion is gratitude, literally, for my life.

Jack Nicholson

gratitude views inspirational

I usually don't get too bogged down with my personal problems because that's a one-way street if you get yourself into a negative frame of mind and only see the dark side of life.

Jack Nicholson

mind dark negative

In my last year of school, I was voted Class Optimist and Class Pessimist. Looking back, I realize I was only half right.

Jack Nicholson

class years school

I think it's good if a man gives a woman some time to herself because I think we all need that and we can all benefit from that. It doesn't imply a rejection of the other person, just a sense that because we do have our separate identities, sometimes you have to be less involved in another person's life or need to have that other person be less involved in your life.

Jack Nicholson

giving men thinking

The only way to break a bad habit was to replace it with a better habit.

Jack Nicholson

cigar smoking way

A lot of people manage to find common ground and not let disagreements or tensions build up and destroy them, and other people break up or get divorced. I don't think anything is ever going to change that situation. You simply try to find an accommodation and an understanding with another person and work from there.

Jack Nicholson

understanding people thinking

If it is difficult to know yourself as an individual, it seems to be more complex as a couple. So if you say, "Oh I like a person who is like this and that," you might take away the possibility of seeing the only one that might be right for you.

Jack Nicholson

individual couple might

You're anachronistic when you know that your feelings aren't going to have any effect on anything.

Jack Nicholson

effects knows feelings

I would never want to vilify somebody who considered abortion murder. I was an illegitimate child myself. I may not have existed today.

Jack Nicholson

abortion may children

I have never lied to you, I have always told you some version of the truth.

Jack Nicholson

versions never-lie lied

It's not like I'm starved for company - I have a few very good lady friends - but there's only a certain amount of times a woman wants to see you and never go out for dinner.

Jack Nicholson

dinner certain want

I don't know if this is a true statistic, but I heard somewhere that there are three times as many single women over forty as single men. That's what we got from the women's movement. The chickens have come home to roost.

Jack Nicholson

three home men

I am a person who is trained to look other people in the eye. But I can't look into the eyes of everyone who wants to look into mine; I can't emotionally cope with that kind of volume. Sunglasses are part of my armor.

Jack Nicholson

sunglasses eye people

Time keeps no measure when true friends are parted, No record day by day; the sands move not for those who, loyal-hearted, friendship's firm laws obey.

Jack Nicholson

loyalty time friendship

I'm content with the fact that I made a decent effort. That's what I've always worried about: that I wouldn't try hard enough.

Jack Nicholson

effort trying facts

Even in the most sophisticated person, it is the primitive eye that watches the film.

Jack Nicholson

film eye watches

No issue is more compelling than the air we breathe, be it hot or cold, be it hawk or human.

Jack Nicholson

stars air clouds