[on Shirley MacLaine] She hated rehearsals and had a bad habit of ad-libbing, which didn`t set well with Billy Wilder. But we got used to each other, because mainly she`s a helluva girl.

[on Billy Wilder] I`ve had directors who were marvelous at breaking scenes down and handling people. But when you would string all the pearls together, they wouldn`t make a beautiful necklace. But Billy is the kind of picture-maker who can make a beautiful string of pearls. He makes the kind of movies that are classics and last forever.

Stay humble. Always answer your phone - no matter who else is in the car.

If you think it`s hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball.

Failure seldom stops you. What stops you is the fear of failure.

If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. You must reach the emotional and intellectual level of ability where you can go out stark naked, emotionally, in front of an audience.

[on Walter Matthau] Walter is a helluva actor. The best I`ve ever worked with.

[on Judy Holliday] She was intelligent and not at all like the dumb blonds she so often depicted. She didn`t give a damn where the camera was placed, how she was made to look, or about being a star. She just played the scene -- acted with, not at. She was also one of the nicest people I ever met.

[on Marilyn Monroe] Difficult? Yes. But she was a wonderful comedienne and she had a charisma like no one before or since.

"Nobody deserves this much money - certainly not an actor."

It`s hard enough to write a good drama, it`s much harder to write a good comedy, and it`s hardest of all to write a drama with comedy. Which is what life is."

"I won`t quit until I get run over by a truck, a producer or a critic."

"The worst part about being me is when people want me to make them laugh."

"If you think it`s difficult to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball."

Accepting his award at the 2000 Golden Globes: "In the spirit of Ving Rhames, I`m going to give this award to Jack Lemmon."