Quotes by Jeff Daniels

And regardless of the fact that in this country, certainly in the arts, we treat comedy as a second-class citizen, I've never thought of it that way. I've always thought it to be important. The last time I looked, the Greeks were holding up two masks. I've always thought of it not only as having equal value, but as the craft of it, being funny.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I think Michigan keeps you sane and on an even keel through the ups and downs. In Michigan, I do fireworks, shovel snow and live life.

— Jeff Daniels

Success

You know, it's really strange now with the Internet, with everyone having an unsolicited, anonymous opinion.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I think we have the attention span of a gnat. You know, with cell phones and Twitter.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

Meryl Streep's brilliant, just brilliant. I've been fortunate to do two movies with Meryl. And for an actor to go moment to moment like she does, there's no one better. And she dances between moments. Each take is different because she's riding instincts, she's riding impulses. And she trusts that.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I think the American electorate should work a little harder at getting informed. That includes hearing, truly listening, to what the other side is saying. Whether you're left or right.

— Jeff Daniels

Success

I have done all of the genres, and the dramatic role is my favorite.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

And that's one thing that helps me is I learn it blandly, vanilla, then I don't try to act it too soon because you start to act it, and you kind of go away from what the next sentence is, what the next paragraph is. So get it down so it kind of can - it's in there so you can then, as I call it, dance on top of it.

— Jeff Daniels

Education

Comedy is hard to do. All the cliches about it are true.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

Every actor just wants good writing.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

Give me good writing, and I'll play it all day.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I love living in Michigan, which has been great for my kids and my family.

— Jeff Daniels

Love

I never said, 'I'm going to be a big star.' I said, 'I'm going to be a good actor.' And that took the pressure off.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I went to Walter Reed hospital a couple of times to visit wounded soldiers, kids with no legs and one arm. You start to question some things.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

On cable now, the writer is king. Any actor chases that.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

Well, the music industry is littered with actors who belatedly came to singing.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

The indie world changed when the economy went south. I was frustrated with doing something, then waiting for it to come out, and sometimes it never did, or would just play in New York for 50 people. So I really wanted to try something else.

— Jeff Daniels

Life

I know there are people, if I go into a market or a city for the first time, there are people that are there that just want to see the famous person, or the guy from 'Dumb and Dumber' or whatever movie they liked. And that's fine, it gets them in the door, but then it's my job to give them something different.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

You see a lot of these movies that are really just 90-minute video games. The effects are incredible. I get it: There's an art to that, terrific. I'm not interested in it, but there's an art to that I suppose.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I'm the guy to call. Look at the resume. I have kids of my own. I have dogs.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I think it's a style of acting that you trust. You trust the instincts.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

And the actors tend not to want to watch themselves very often. I'm one of those guys.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I just never did buy this idea that you have to live in Los Angeles to be an actor. I didn't see that as a requirement in my job description.

— Jeff Daniels

Wisdom

I love the theater, but if I had to choose, I would choose a film at this time in my life. Something meaty, to sink my teeth into.

— Jeff Daniels

Love