45+ James Dean Quotes On Acting, Iconic And Intense

James Dean was an American actor who is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage rebellion and disaffection. He starred in several films, most notably Rebel Without a Cause and Giant, and became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He tragically died in a car accident in 1955 at the age of 24. Following is our collection on famous quotes by James Dean on acting, life, love.

Top 10 James Dean Quotes

1. Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die tomorrow.
2. You are who you are meant to be. Dance as if no one's watching. Love as if it's all you know. Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
3. Remember: Life is short, break the rules
4. My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society.
5. If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he's dead, then maybe he was a great man.
6. The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results.
7. But you can't show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture. You've got to show what it's really like, and try to reach them on their own grounds.
8. Live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse.
9. Trust and belief are two prime considerations. You must not allow yourself to be opinionated.
10. Being a good actor isn't easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I'm done.

James Dean Image Quotes

My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society. — James Dean

The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results. — James Dean

James Dean Short Quotes

• Take it easy driving– the life you save may be mine.
• I want to be a Texan 24 hours a day.
• An actual right is something that governments need merely to secure, not to implement.
• My fun days are over.
• I have a fairly adequate knowledge of Satanic forces.
• What better way to die? It's fast and clean and you go out in a blaze of glory!
• Racing is the only time I feel whole.
• I can't let in the light.It will destroy my performance like light destroys film
• An hour or two of learning from the masters is usually enough to recharge my artistic batteries.
• You're tearing me apart!

James Dean Quotes About Acting

Reality doesn't have any preconceived ideas. You've got to learn how to smoke the cigarette, not act smoking the cigarette. You need to drink the drink, not act drinking the drink. You've got to do things and not show them. — James Dean

To me, acting is the most logical way for people's neuroses to manifest themselves, in this great need we all have to express ourselves. — James Dean

When an actor plays a scene exactly the way a director orders, it isn't acting. It's following instructions. Anyone with the physical qualifications can do that. — James Dean

How can you measure acting in inches? — James Dean

James Dean Quotes About Actor

Being an actor is the loneliest thing in the world. You are all alone with your concentration and imagination, and that's all you have. — James Dean

An actor must interpret life, and in order to do so must be willing to accept all the experiences life has to offer. In fact, he must seek out more of life than life puts at his feet. — James Dean

To my way of thinking, an actor's course is set even before he's out of the cradle. — James Dean

Studying cows, pigs and chickens can help an actor develop his character. There are a lot of things I learned from animals. One was that they couldn't hiss or boo me. — James Dean

James Dean Quotes About World

I also became close to nature, and am now able to appreciate the beauty with which this world is endowed. — James Dean

I think the prime reason for existence, for living in this world is discovery. — James Dean

There is no way to be truly great in this world. We are all impaled on the crook of conditioning. — James Dean

If I can keep this up and nothing interferes with my progress, one of these days I might be able to contribute something to the world. — James Dean

There is no way to be truly great in this world. We are impaled on the crook of conditioning. A fish that is in the water has no choice that he is. Genius would have it that we swim in sand. We are fish and we drown. — James Dean

James Dean Famous Quotes And Sayings

My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society. — James Dean

The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results. — James Dean

I’m a serious-minded and intense little devil – terribly gauche and so tense that I don’t see how people can stay in the same room as me. I know I couldn’t tolerate myself. — James Dean

If I had one day when I didn't have to be all confused and didn't have to feel that I was ashamed of everything. If I felt that I belonged someplace. You know? — James Dean

At times there seems to be a million ideas worth painting. However, there are days when it's a challenge to pull any idea together. On these days I go to my studio, leaf through an art history book, and tell myself that I am part of this great tradition. — James Dean

What do we need all that for?”If a picture is psychologically motivated, if there is truth in the relationship in it, then I think that picture will do good. I firmly believe Rebel Without A Cause is such a picture. — James Dean

If you’re not afraid, if you take everything you are, everything worthwhile in you and direct it at one goal, one ultimate mark, you’ve got to get there. — James Dean

It was an accident, although I've been involved in some kind of theatrical function or other since I was a child - in school, music, athletics. To me, acting is the most logical way for people's neuroses to manifest themselves, in this great need we all have to express ourselves. To my way of thinking, an actor's course is set even before he's out of the cradle. — James Dean

Whatever’s inside making me what I am, it’s like film. Film only works in the dark. Tear it all open and let in the light and you kill it. — James Dean

When an actor plays a scene exactly the way a director orders, it isn't acting. It's following instructions. Anyone with the physical qualifications can do that. So the director's task is just that – to direct, to point the way. Then the actor takes over. And he must be allowed the space, the freedom to express himself in the role. Without that space, an actor is no more than an unthinking robot with a chest-full of push-buttons. — James Dean

Am I in love? Absolutely. I'm in love with ancient philosophers, foreign painters, classic authors, and musicians who have died long ago. I'm a passionate lover. I fawn over these people. I have given them my heart and my soul. The trouble is, I'm unable to love anyone tangible. I have sacrificed a physical bond, for a metaphysical relationship. I am the ultimate idealistic lover. — James Dean

I don't have to explain anything to anybody. — James Dean

I think the one thing this picture shows that's new is the psychological disproportion of the kids' demands on the parents. Parents are often at fault, but the kids have some work to do, too. — James Dean

To grasp the full significance of life is the actor's duty; to interpret it his problem; and to express it his dedication. Being an actor is the loneliest thing in the world. You are all alone with your concentration and imagination, and that's all you have. Being a good actor isn't easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I'm done. — James Dean

Life Lessons by James Dean

1. James Dean taught us to live life to the fullest and to never be afraid to take risks. He showed us that it is important to stay true to ourselves and to always strive for our dreams.
2. He also showed us that it is ok to be vulnerable and to express our emotions, even if it means going against the grain.
3. Lastly, he taught us to be kind and to never take life for granted, as it can be taken away from us in an instant.