Malcolm McDowell quotes:

The definition of insanity in Texas is so insane that it's impossible to be insane in Texas.

Richard Lester is a wonderful director, a great comedy director, of course.

It is true I'd rather get a hole in one than win an Academy Award.

Let's not get too precious about it: actors are not heart surgeons or brain surgeons. We are just entertaining people.

My favorite actor who played villains - who could play anything, really - was Jimmy Cagney.

I love Bob Altman. I always admired him so much because I always thought he was a genuine voice.

I like to razz the Trekkies a little bit. Who doesn't? It's trainspotting, isn't it? But they are very well-meaning, actually. I've done a couple of Star Trek conventions, and they've only been really welcoming.

I'm from a country where acting is taken very seriously; it's a very serious profession.

I'd love to do radio plays. I think that one should be open to everything and shouldn't limit oneself.

I think we're all a little afraid of the dark. If you lived in the country, as I did, there's nothing quite like country dark, which was really black. And as a child, your imagination runs wild.

Every university in America teaches 'Clockwork Orange.' I get fed up with it.

You can't hold back. You can't think of the subtleties of playing. You just have to get out and really bare it all, and hopefully you don't fall off the plank. And if you do, hey, pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and start all over again.

If you dunk your head in cold water, you can't stay under for more than five seconds. I mean, that's it.

Different directors offer you different things, and it's not necessarily the most obvious things.

An actor cannot be a censor. I'm there to interpret.

You've always got to work with the best if you can, and of course, the best are the best because they're different. They expect certain standards, and they're usually very difficult people to work with.

I never do research unless it's extraordinary circumstances.

The great thing about Burgess's work is the dichotomy of making the hero or anti-hero an immoral man. And that's what makes it interesting. Because, you know, you are sucked into kind of like this guy.

The villains that I play, I always think that they are grounded, wonderful people with enormous intellects who are very exciting to spend an evening with. I never see them as bad people.

I particularly love theater, I just love a challenge, and always have, and will do anything to make it interesting. I'll try anything, really, as long as it's a challenge and you can have some fun doing it.

I am a professional actor, and I don't go about moralizing about what the character does. Otherwise, seriously, why be an actor? You're not making some kind of social statement. That's not what actors do.

Once you commit to something, you've got to commit the whole way. Try and make the best of it.

If you look a little punkish, then they're going to give you the parts. And if you play an iconic villain early on in your career, you tend to get asked to play one over and over and over again.

The thing is, I've never been a handsome leading-man type, so let's not kid ourselves.

I'm not quite as buoyant as I was in my youth.

I am a professional actor and I don't go about moralizing about what the character does. Otherwise, seriously, why be an actor? You're not making some kind of social statement. That's not what actors do. They may inadvertently do it, but it's because of the script, not the acting.

I love doing every role I do!

I never feel I repeat myself. I really go out of my way to amuse myself. I would be bored stiff. If I feel the déjavu when I'm doing something, I stop and rethink and rework it.

It's always a fascinating subject - a serial killer let loose on a small community. It always holds, it's always scary.

One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place.

Real greatness comes from that sort of spontaneity of the moment that takes it into another level. That can never be planned; it happens or it doesn't. And you can't force it.

The most dangerous people are always clever, compelling, and charismatic.

The most nurturing of directors can make you feel too comfortable, and you don't really push for that extra whatever.

There are no great scripts - just great films.

They say that time is the fire in which we burn.

You know, I've had an incredible career and I'm blessed.