Zac Efron quotes:

In sixth grade, my basketball team made it to the league championships. In double overtime, with three seconds left, I rebounded the ball and passed it - to the wrong team! They scored at the buzzer and we lost the game. To this day, I still have nightmares!

I don't know if I believe in love at first sight, but of course I believe in two people having chemistry right away. A girl should be really easy to talk to. When I lose track of time because we've been talking, I think that's really fun.

We shot 'High School Musical' in eight weeks. I spent longer rehearsing for 'Hairspray' than filming 'High School Musical'.

I think if you're fame-hungry, go out to a nightclub and get drunk... why do that? I don't understand how some people would want fame so bad that they'd go out and get negative attention to earn it.

Right when 'High School Musical' was taking off, one of my little cousins called and was really excited to tell me there was a huge 'I Hate Zac Efron' club at her school. I'm sure they're doing great. More power to them.

It's weird, but I don't feel like think I deserve any of the attention. There's really nothing but one audition for a Disney Channel movie that separates me from 2,000 other brown-haired, blue-eyed guys in L.A., you know?

There's really nothing but one audition for a Disney Channel movie that separates me from 2,000 other brown-haired, blue-eyed guys in L.A., you know?

I usually spend Valentines Day with my friends. But if I did have a girlfriend, I'd bring her flowers and candy.

It's the moms who are overaggressive. A lot of times their daughters are very sweet and cordial, and the moms tend to grab you and scream and want to kiss you. You gotta watch out for the moms.

Dating is kind of hard. Like dinner or something like that. Like a forced awkward situation is very strange. Especially for me, for some reason.

I wore goofy hats to school and did musical theater. Most people thought I was a dork. But if you have a sense of humor about it, no one can bring you down.

I'm bad at returning phone calls.

I'm definitely not getting married. In this business, you're either getting married or they want you to be pregnant. I'm not getting married until I'm forty. If ever.

Working out is my biggest hobby. It's my Zen hour. I just zone out.

I was influenced when I was younger by the cartoon movies that Disney put out, like Cinderella and what not. I watched those movies over and over when I was younger and the music is ingrained into my head. Nowadays, I'm still humming the tunes. It taught me the fundamentals.

Without a doubt, I'd love to do Broadway. I actually can't wait to get back to musical theater.

My dogs are crazy. They're always getting into some kind of trouble... but then again, they're my most loyal friends.

Every time I go to big events, it's a trip. I feel like that kid who shouldn't really be there.

A girl can tell I like her when I blush or start telling bad jokes.

I wouldn't just have other people write songs and me go out and sing it. I would sit down with a guitar and write 11 or 12 good songs for an album and that is gonna take a long time.

I think the only real knowledge I had before I went to Iowa was what I learned from 'Food Inc'. But once I got there and developed these extensive relationships with the farmers, I realized that we're basically made of corn.

I think the most important thing for me in a relationship is honesty.

Every day is a new experience and I take it as it comes.

It's not that I'm opposed to doing a big-budget action movie. But it has to be the right project.

I've always cared about fashion and what I look like. I don't like to spend a lot of money on designer clothes, but I do like to look good.

I think it's fine for girls to ask boys out. I actually prefer it.

Sometimes I take a while to get ready to go out. It's not excessive, but it takes me some time to find clean clothes that match.

Being known for musicals is a great thing.

If there's a party and they won't let my friends in, I'd leave. No question.

There are a lot of people who can slide on talent their whole lives; they're just naturally gifted. I've never considered myself one of those people. I enjoy outworking the opposition.

I left home at 17 and I've been on the road ever since.

I love action-adventure-type films - mythical adventures like 'Lord of the Rings' or superhero films like 'Batman.'

I like when a girl knows what she looks like and dresses to accentuate those features.

I like to go and do something adventurous. I like to go out and do some sort of crazy activity.

Amanda Bynes and I have become close since filming 'Hairspray.' It's so weird because I grew up watching her.

It's hard to film underwater. It really is tricky. You don't have goggles, so you can't see anything. You don't know where you're swimming to. Everything's blurry.

Personally, I was never the cool kid. I was always sort of a bookworm.

Don't get me wrong - I've gone to a club. But I'd much rather be with my close friends at home or a concert, or on a trip. I'll go dancing with my grandma. She likes to cut a rug!

If I splurge on anything, it's cologne. I love smelling good.

One time I went into a restroom and a girl followed me in. I signed an autograph for her in the sink. It was pretty funny because she was in a guy's restroom and she wasn't embarrassed at all.

I'm very specific about scripts that I like. I don't have a master plan or, like, a game plan. I don't have a chart that I'm following or anything like that. I'm very much playing it by ear. Certain things just happen and it's undeniable, you just go that way. But I don't have a specific path I'm following, I'm just playing it by ear.

Great advice comes from people that have been around a lot longer than you.

Little Zac had it easy - but he didn't realize he had it easy, so he took it for granted. I think going through 'Hairspray' and other projects helped me learn about the business and life in general.

You don't really know how beautiful a girl is, until you meet her, all her beauty is in her personality.

High School Musical has been a blessing and a gift.

I want to grow up, live my life, experience things, make movies about those experiences and by the time the audience catches up, hopefully they'll have a movie there that helps them get through that next phase when the discover life isn't always like High School Musical.

I can tell that fame is probably the most unadorable thing about acting. High School Musical is what got me here today and I'm very grateful - but the fame part isn't so fun.

If you'd have asked me when I was auditioning for High School Musical if I ever thought I was going to play a Marine...

A dog, for me, it's not just getting a dog. I couldn't leave him at home. I'm looking for a life partner and I'm not ready. I'm not emotionally mature enough.

I wish I could say I see my little brother more. We used to fight all the time but now that I don't see him very often I cherish the time I have with him.

My dogs are crazy. They're always getting into some kind of trouble but then again, they're my most loyal friends.

I'm a very outgoing person so I like girls who are not afraid to be themselves. I'm not a shy person.I like conversations and I'm a really big sucker for personality.

I think the most important thing is to establish myself as an actor. As much as it's a performing art, I'm not really a performer.

Spider-Man's probably my favorite. You see, Batman is a billionaire and there's nothing really cool about a billionaire saving the world. But Spider-Man is Peter Parker, a conflicted character who puts on a suit and saves the world. I love that.

In the back of my mind, I can never forget this could be gone tomorrow - and at this point I think the odds are against me... the chances of succeeding in this business are slim to none; there's only a handful of people that have long careers. You have to put in the work, you can never be satisfied, never take it for granted.

I bought an electric scooter in sixth grade. Bankrupted me.

I grew up being into sports and I wasn't trained to move my body in the right way for dancing. I'm the last one to get any moves correct. In rehearsals it's always, 'OK, one more take for Zac.'

You always have something to learn from people who have been through more than you. Be open and receptive to what they know.

A lot of people ask: 'Will you play a psycho to really change your image and prove you can act?' But that's not what I'm about.

Think on your toes, use what's around you, and come up with something organic and fun.

I'm very competitive by nature. And I like to be the underdog - It's the best way to win. To come from behind and win is a great feeling!

I've grown up a lot, I'm on my own, and I've learned some valuable life lessons.

I want to be a well-rounded, versatile performer.

From day one, I got addicted to being on stage and getting the applause and laughter.

A woman called me interesting once, and it kind of blew my mind. She said, 'You're one of the most interesting people I've ever met,' and I was like, 'Wow.'

I think every single girl has something different and special about her. You find one who clicks with your vibe.

Sometimes, especially when it's cold, I get dry skin, so I scratch a lot. I scratch my arms incessantly.

Jesse McCartney is one of the nicest people around. I hate when I hear bad things about him, because anyone who knows him would agree that he's a good guy and really humble.

I'm a guy, but I'm not afraid to cry. Not all of the time. But when I'm watching a movie, I'll sometimes shed a tear, especially 'Moulin Rouge'.

I've been doing musical theater since I was a kid. And look for a CD from me in the future. I want to write all the songs!

There's a way that you can throw negativity out there that seems rebellious. But I've always taken pleasure in a different kind of rebellion, which is putting a positive spin on everything, trying to enjoy myself at all times.

I feel disconnected, like I don't know where I am, if I'm on my phone too much. I'm also just the type to call. I'm not good on text.

I think if a girl is easy to talk to then that's the first thing I look for. It's great when you meet a girl and three hours later you're like, 'Oh my gosh, we've been talking for three hours, what happened to the time?'

If I had a daughter, and some guy came home with her, I'd be on him like a hawk. When I meet people's parents, I know my place. It's not that hard.

I just want to make great films and be good in them. And I think that my perception of what's great in a film is constantly evolving.

Honestly, if the worst these people can say about me is that I'm gay, then I think I'll be fine. I can handle it.

A fan sent me a letter and a $10 bill. It's a short letter - all she said was, 'Hey, since it's harder for you to go out these days without getting photographed, here $10 for a pizza.' I was like, 'Aww, she sent me money for a pizza so I could eat at home!'

As far as looking at myself on screen, I tend to pick out every single flaw that I could have or should have done better. I'm more of a cringer at first and when it is years down the road and out of my way, I can actually appreciate it somehow.

Every actor has three versions of each scene - the one that you rehearse the night before, in your bedroom, the one you actually get to do when you're filming, and then the one you wish you would have done, afterward.

Every time you make a movie you have to confront your fears.

Fame is probably the most unadorable thing about acting.

Honesty is most important, and it's difficult when you're young and single and sort of figuring out your own life.

I believe in destiny. I believe destiny opens doors for you, but it's up to you to walk through them.

I can draw really well. And I like to paint. I'm a bit of an artist.

I can't explain to you what it's like to be a heartthrob. I don't think I am a heartthrob.

I can't handle the paparazzi. They're everywhere. One of them was in a dumpster trying to take my photo the other day. It was crazy!

I can't remember. . . . My character was sort of unconscious for it.

I connect with people on a daily basis.

I don't like to live in fear about things like rumors and backlash to begin with -- that's the way I was raised -- but I just can't see what's so wrong about being gay.

I don't think music is done by any means. I would love to do it again but it's finding the right thing.

I don't think there are any rules in real face-to-face relationships or interactions. I think authenticity and being yourself is always, without a doubt, the best plan of action. Things happen differently when you're actually here, so you can't put out a general guideline that's gonna show up in text and be interpreted. There are no rules. Just be yourself.

I had a babysitter when I was 12 or younger. I had a big crush on her. She was really spontaneous and fun and loved to make us sing and dance and paint. She was the coolest person in the world. I guess I did have my young love. I did everything to impress her. Everything possible. It was just ridiculous.

I notice fashion on other people, I always enjoy it when people try and look their best, I've always been taught to try and look my best and that's probably my main influence, I'm not looking to influence fashion anymore than the next guy, but I do try and look my best when I'm out and representing my movies.

I notice people that look good.

I try to be green as much as I can and it's hard. I feel like I'm never doing enough. For me as an actor, there's only so many things I can do, and this is a way, through a film, to teach and hopefully get the message out to young kids.

I wouldn't change anything for the world, although the fame part of this [entertainment] industry is tough to handle at times.

I'd love to take a year off and travel the world under the radar. I would love to do it really low key. I wouldn't need to stay in fancy hotels or anything; I just want to explore - but I don't know how I'd do it. Would I shave my head to try and go incognito? Ha ha! I'm not telling.

If you really want your hair to look good, just don't wash it for a day. That's my secret.

I'll never try to put on a fake image. I'm just Zac.

I'm enjoying where I'm at in my life and I feel like I'm learning a lot on a daily basis. I'm learning without having to be behind a desk, so it's a pretty cool place to be.

I'm not getting married until I'm forty. If ever.

I've always been singing. Since day one. I started doing musical theater and you have to sing in musical theater and so that's where I got most of my training. So singing on stage, you just inevitably, when you're around other vocal artists, you get better at singing.

I've always loved dogs. I grew up with them and I love working with them. They're really fun.

Life should be fun not dumb

My advice to teens is to try and do something that scares you every day because it's the only way you can test how far you can really go.

My advice to teens is to try and do something that scares you every day because it's the only way you can test how far you can really go. Whether it's going out and auditioning for the play or trying out for the basketball team, you have to explore your boundaries and see where you really want to go and the only way you can do that is to break out of your shell.

My mom is the No. 1 person who has taught me to be courteous towards women, to always be respectful and polite to them, and to always lead with your heart.

Sometimes you grow out of love.

The fans make the person a star.

The more attention you give to the paparazzi, the more it just, like, validates everything . . .

There are moments when you love babies, and you're like, "God, they are the reason why we exist." Then they start crying, and you're like "God! Jesus!"

There's no point in being scared of just trying.

When I'm stylizing, it's all about accessories.

When you're young everything feels like the end of the world, but its not; its just the beginning.

You always have to remember that bullies want to bring you down because you have something that they admire. Also, when you get made fun of-when people point out your weaknesses, it's an opportunity for you to rise above.

You can't describe the feeling of being in love - when you meet someone who makes you a better person.