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. In the short span of his lifetime, an actor must learn all there is to know, experience all there is to experience, or approach that state as closely as possible. He must be superhuman in his efforts to store away in the core of his subconscious everything that he might be called upon to use in the expression of his art.
More from James Dean
Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
Permalink to quote #2 Gratification comes in the doing, not in the results.
Permalink to quote #3 How can you measure acting in inches?
Permalink to quote #4