Top quotes by Matthew McConaughey

When you have good friends you've been around, every time they talk, you don't give them your full attention. You don't look them in the eye and stop. Half the time, you're listening, half the time, you are ignoring them. Votes: 25

Sure, I can get a little bit jealous. The good part about jealousy is that it comes from passion. It's also the dangerous part and it's an ugly emotion that hurts. Votes: 21

For me, one of the toughest things about Valentine's Day is that it gets geared up as the day to profess your love. See, T-E-S-T - that's a bad word that doesn't go with L-O-V-E. Votes: 16

I'm a football fan, a sports fan, a fan of competition. Votes: 15

I've been in a couple of weddings where the coolest people that were the most day before so mellow and then the day of the wedding freaking out. Votes: 14

Starting at about, I guess, forever, I've always looked forward to getting older. When I was 14, I couldn't wait to be 16 and get a driver's license. Votes: 13

The best advice comes from people who don't give advice. Votes: 13

I'm a golfer, and what are the two sports you can do till you drop? Golf and surfing. They're great for you limber-wise, they're great for you health-wise, and they put you in sweet locations. Votes: 10

I've never been a jealous person, and I've never felt built up by someone else's failure - that's a cheap thrill. Votes: 10

I will say this: one of the things that is a pain when you're expecting children is how much advice unsolicited people give you when you're not asking for it. Votes: 10

My rule is to break one sweat a day. Votes: 9

Kids will remind you that, even though you've gone down a road 100 times, it's brand new for them - and that's healthy. Votes: 9

I don't dislike any of my exes. If I took time to form a relationship, it's gonna hurt when we move on, but are you puttin' White-Out over all that beautiful time together? That was real time in your life. It's connected to where you are today. Votes: 8

I know when I grew up, it was, if it was daylight outside, get outside. Well, now, with the technological age of computers and everything, everyone's inside virtually going everywhere they want to go, virtually having relationships, virtually traveling across the neighborhood, virtually going to that island. Votes: 7

I'm one of the most adaptable guys I know in as much as travelling is my favourite thing to do in life. With every place I go, I try to stay there long enough to do it justice, long enough so that I can at least imagine what it would be like to live there. Once I imagine that, then it's OK for me to return home. Votes: 7

One of the great pleasures of going to see a Daniel Day-Lewis film: you haven't seen him in five years. Where have you been? So, it's a special event, right? Well, if you want to go see a movie that I'm in, it still may be a special event for you, but, you don't feel like you don't know where I've been. Votes: 7

I've got a great sense of humor, and if I'm able to say or do something in a movie that people feel like they want to repeat, that's hugely flattering. Votes: 7

I've got incredible support from my wife and family and people around me. I've got great people around me who handle anything on the outside, business-wise, who help free me up to create in my job. Votes: 7

In whatever adulation you get, there's truth and there's not truth. And wherever they dog you, and they say it was horrible - there's truth and there's not truth. It's human nature to like to read the adulation more. Votes: 6

I was raised on, 'You go get a nine-to-five job, earn your pay and work your way up.' Votes: 6

If you want your hair to be thicker, cut it when the moon is about to be full - a heavy, full, waxing moon. Do not cut it when the moon's waning. Votes: 6

My lawyer has been a good friend of mine for a long time. He and I continuously have conversations. Votes: 5

Now, you lose something in your life, or you come into a conflict, and there's gonna come a time that you're gonna know: There was a reason for that. And at the end of your life, all the things you thought were periods, they turn out to be commas. There was never a full stop in any of it. Votes: 4

When someone bestows something on you, no matter how true it is, when someone says, 'Sexiest Man Alive,' I'm honestly going, 'Thank you. Right on.' For me, it's never canceled out anything, it's never made me go, 'Does this make me less talented of an actor?' Votes: 4

I have some good friends of my own who happen to be gay, and when it comes to gay, straight, or whatever, I'm for anything life-affirmative. I'm for gay power, straight power, male power, female power; everybody should feel empowered without oppressing anyone who's different. Votes: 4

We have a big appetite for putting people down but, at the heart of everyone, there's enough room for all of us to succeed. Votes: 3

Whether I'm running on the beach without my shirt or whether I'm going out with my kids or going to church or going out to dinner - I don't choose to insulate myself in engaging in real life. Hence, the public kind of almost knows me as much through my real life that they see through the rag mags. Votes: 2

There's a difference in thinking you are a champion and knowing that you are. Votes: 2

There's two sorts of fear: one you embrace and one you should listen to and turn the other way. Votes: 1

When I first starting making money, when I first made my first six-digits, I was - my big thing was I went to put super unleaded in my truck for the first time. Votes: 1

A coach, especially at a college level - much more at a college or high school level, than at a pro level - you're more of a teacher than an actual coach. Votes: 0

We spend so much time sublimatin', thinkin' about, 'What am I going to have for lunch, dinner?' Votes: 0

I'm not arrogant enough to look back on my career and criticize my choices. It's really not my place. Votes: 0

Absolutely not. I have no problem with commitment. In fact, I love having someone in my life. Votes: 0

My wife and I don't compete. We know each other's preferences, and we work to provide those for each other. One will take over when the other is faced with something he or she dislikes. That's what friends do. Votes: 0

I don't dabble and spend much mind or time dealing with, I don't know, people's perceptions of me. I truly don't. Votes: 0

I love Los Angeles, and it's been very good to me, but if everyone is running around telling the stories, who's living them? You don't play characters that are celebrities - you play guys who know what to do when their septic tank's blocked. Votes: 0

There are certain nights you and your image just aren't in the same bed. Votes: 0

I go on The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast is one of the websites that I check out. Votes: 0

Cameras aren't guns. They can't really hurt you. Votes: 0

When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what they right hand doeth. Votes: 0

Africa is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Votes: 0

The male is always the pawn in a romantic comedy. Come together, break up, go chase her, get her, roll credits. That's what happens in all of them. Votes: 0

Romantic comedies are built to be light. They're built for a certain buoyancy. Votes: 0

They eat, they crap, they sleep, and if they're crying they need to do one of the three and they're having trouble doing it. Real simple. Votes: 0

I think the discipline comes with turning that cellphone and Blackberry off and unplugging completely. You do that and you go through some withdrawals in the beginning. You start thinking, 'Oh, do I need to do this? Do I need to do that?' You forget that we were doing just fine with the payphone. Votes: 0

Man who invented the hamburger was smart; man who invented the cheeseburger was a genius. Votes: 0

I like having my hands in the clay. I like the movie-making process. Votes: 0

The dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Votes: 0

The "Dazed" fans are the best! "Dazed" fans never even want an autograph or nothin'. Votes: 0

I think most defense attorneys know, to some extent, their clients are guilty. Votes: 0

We found a great rhythm. Contractions started kicking in. I sat there with her, right between her legs. We got tribal on it, we danced to it! I was DJ-ing this Brazilian music. Votes: 0

My favorite dish is cleaning out the fridge on Sunday night and improvising a great medley. Votes: 0

No computer, no gadget, no trickery. I am an animal, it is a plant. I will beat the weed! Votes: 0

I love it. It's silly to say that it is a world of false and stupid people. Sure there are witches and swindlers, but you can meet there many creative, talented and generous persons too. Hollywood is a pleasant place, when you are hip to the game and you enjoy it for what it is really. Votes: 0

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Votes: 0

If happiness is what you're after, then you are going to be let down frequently and be unhappy much of your time. Joy, though, is something else. It's not a choice, not a response to some result, it is a constant. Joy is 'the feeling we have from doing what we are fashioned to do,' no matter the outcome. Votes: 0

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. Votes: 0

I have my own vocabulary. I love linguistics. That surprises people. Votes: 0

Each of the films, whether it's Magic Mike or Dallas Buyers Club, was a challenge for me. I had to dig deeper. Also, my decision to shake things up came after my first child was born. I had taken nearly two years off and I thought that I would enjoy my time as a dad and wait until something interesting came along Votes: 0

My experience in work, even going to work with Scorsese, is that people always think there's some magic trick. There's no magic trick. The people who are really good at what they do do simple things really, really well. Votes: 0

I've never been a manipulator, even in my bachelor days. I never wanted to do things to people that could catch up with me later on. Votes: 0

I've been wanting to have my own family since I was young. It just took me a while to find the perfect woman. Votes: 0

Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. Votes: 0

I like quips. I like whiffs of cynicism and I think they can be witty. But I don't really know where wittiness is constructive. Votes: 0

It's a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates. Votes: 0

I want to thank God because that's who I look up. He's graced my life with opportunities. He's shown me that it's a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates Votes: 0

Be brave. Take the hill. But first answer the question, "What is my hill? Votes: 0

My whole family are hams. They're storytellers and everyone outdoes the next one. Votes: 0

If you can be mentally stimulated by the workout and find out how to get through it, it's more fun. Votes: 0

When I see grace in a woman, that's very sexy. You can tell by how someone moves or their rhythm. Votes: 0

I don't want to just revolve. I want to evolve. As a man, as a human, as a father, as a lover. Votes: 0

It's not a science when you are judging art, but we'd be remiss to say you can't look at something and say, 'This is more well done than that.' Votes: 0

I've done films where we don't rehearse, and I've done films where we heavily rehearse. I like rehearsals. Votes: 0

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Votes: 0

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Votes: 0

The unsaid rule for living in a trailer park is: 'If the door's shut, don't come a-knockin.' But if it's open and you're walkin' by, feel free to say, 'Hello.' Votes: 0

I like the city. I like the concrete. I like big business. I like being a CEO of my own company and having a lot of responsibilities. At the same time, when I can go off with a backpack or off on a surfboard or even off on a run somewhere in the woods - that's where I'm really happy. Votes: 0

Even as a kid, I wore J.C. Penney plain-pocket jeans because they were plain pockets. I didn't want anybody's name on my backside. I personally don't like to wear clothing that is named for somebody or has someone's likeness all over it. Votes: 0

Romcoms are hard in a lot of ways: they're built to be buoyant. It's easy to demean them. Votes: 0

A creep is someone who claims he's one thing but he's actually another. Votes: 0

There's a gap between what I want to do, what I do on camera, and what gets edited. Right? So the goal is to try and close the gaps. What's the biggest compliment is if I read a review and it's exactly what I wrote down in my diary before ever filming it. That's really cool. That's the biggest signifier of closing the gaps. Votes: 0

Water's never clumsy. Votes: 0

I love good film, whether it's an independent or studio film. The independent films, I think the good ones aren't necessarily eccentric ones but they're the more specific ones. Votes: 0

My life is the road, man. I need to keep moving. Votes: 0

There aren't many things that are universally cool, and it's cool not to litter. I'd never do it. Votes: 0

My number one thing? Don't overleverage yourself. Don't say you can do something when you really can't. Votes: 0

Life is a series of commas, not periods. Votes: 0

Any artist, the work you do, if it's a painting or if it's a performance, you hope it translates to a common denominator with the people that they see something in their own life in there. Or they see something in somebody else's life. That's what's fun about sharing art. Votes: 0

I've read a lot of really great characters in some really crappy stories, where I said, like, 'Boy I could shine here, but the story sucks.' I don't want to be part of that. Votes: 0

I like to be able to wear something that is appropriate for wherever the day takes me: to work, on a hike and then out to dinner. I like to take the formality out of the day's schedule and be ready for any off-road detour. Votes: 0

Music is a really great creative tool for me, for different roles. Votes: 0

I love having my hands in the dirt. It is never a science and always an art. There are no rules. And if it comes down to me versus that weed I'm trying to pull out of the ground that doesn't want to come out? I know I'll win. Votes: 0

We dissect failure a lot more than we dissect success. Votes: 0

There are a whole bunch of roles where people say, 'Oh, you're playing yourself.' I guess it's kind of a compliment. Or people say, 'Oh, man, you just roll out of bed and do that.' The work is to make it look effortless. That's the hard part. Votes: 0

You want to be a writer? Start writing. You want to be a filmmaker? Start shooting stuff on your phone right now. Votes: 0

Good ideas are free - or at least they should be. Votes: 0

I like a good pair of jeans, but I also like putting on a nice tux. I'd rather go around in a good pair of jeans that you don't wash every day, because they get more and more comfortable. Votes: 0

What the heck is true love? I remember feeling, back when I was 12 and 'going' with this girl, 'Is this true love?' Votes: 0

When I'm surfing, I'm sure not thinking about the paparazzi. I guess if they start getting on floaties and coming out there in the water, then I might be a little upset. Votes: 0

A foolish man... built his house upon the sand. Votes: 0

A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. Votes: 0

As an actor for hire, my job is to do some pre-production work for myself. Then my job is to show up and give the best performance I can. Votes: 0

Bringing a baby into the world is something I've always wanted, and now I'm completely ready for my life to start revolving around another human being. Votes: 0

By their fruits ye shall know them. Votes: 0

Cynicism can be funny. But it's the easy way. You'll forget to enjoy anything. I try to make the evolving choice, the forward-moving, life-giving choice. Just keep living, man. Votes: 0

Directors like William Friedkin (Killer Joe), Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike), and Lee Daniels (The Paperboy) got in touch with me and wanted me to be part of their films. That was a whole new chapter for me. I didn't chase any of those films and it made me think that I was right to take a chance, say no to the kind of thing I had grown tired of doing, and wait until something good came around. And it did! Votes: 0

Every hero doesn't do this great big hero thing. They do the simple thing over and over... and they stick to it. Votes: 0

First off I want to thank God, because he's the one I look up to, he's graced my life with opportunities that I know are not of my hand or any other human kind. He has shown me that it's a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates. In the words of the late (British actor) Charlie Laughton, who said, 'When you got God, you got a friend and that friend is you.' Votes: 0

Give thanks. Appreciate what you DO have ... the more we give thanks, the more we receive to be thankful for. Gratitude is the gift that always gives back. Votes: 0

Having children has helped me become a better actor because they remind you to play make believe. It's the ease and naturalness of their beings. They just play and it's completely real for them at the time. As an actor, if we do it well, we make you believe. Votes: 0

Hypocrites do the devil's drudgery in Christ's livery. Votes: 0

I always wanted to be a father and thought it would be great, but it just took the right woman and the right time to make it all happen. Votes: 0

I am vain. I think vanity is a good thing. It's done more good things for me than it has not. Votes: 0

I believe in living in the present and making each day count. I don't pay much attention to the past or the future. Votes: 0

I do believe in God, but I think it's very healthy for a believer to spend time in the pragmatism of agnosticism, and I think God appreciates agnostics trying to make a science of it and going, "I will not believe any further than that." I enjoy that kind of engineering mind. In no way did it ever feel blasphemous to me as a man of faith. Votes: 0

I don't know how to work a room. It's a real skill. Votes: 0

I don't mind assholes. It's the dork I don't trust. The dork is the one who's trying to be whatever he thinks you want him to be. I trust the asshole cause you know where he's gonna stand. Votes: 0

I get it. You have the right to have guns. But look, let's forget that right. Let's forget the pleasure you get safely on your range, because it's in the wrong hands in other places. Votes: 0

I got interested in the justice system. If I was, I'd probably be a defense lawyer. I was headed that way, but luckily changed my track to film school. Votes: 0

I had a fan who had a fictional relationship with me. She wrote letters to me and then wrote return letters to herself (from me). In her mind, we were married and had two children. Her parents finally uncovered this delusional life she was living and she got help. Votes: 0

I had a van that I customized so I could basically live out of that while I traveled and then I graduated to an Airstream. I've got three Airstreams now and they're all customized different ways. The good thing about those is there's not enough square footage to blow all your money. Votes: 0

I hated repeating myself. The last films I've done - not once did I ever have the feeling that I was dialing it in. Votes: 0

I keep a diary - one for each film and foreign land I travel to. Votes: 0

I know who I am. And after all these years, there's a victory in that. Votes: 0

I like the 'Alive' part. Now I've made it. Wait until you see the roles I could take after this. You're going to see my gut hanging over, plus 22lbs. It'll be a whole new kind of sexy! Votes: 0

I like to be directed, but when I'm flying and I'm on fire, I don't want someone coming and getting in my way just because they feel like they need to. Votes: 0

I like to customize things. I customized the back of old Lincoln to be my mobile office. I had one of those little laptop desks like in a police car, and I had a cooler in there, so that was my mobile office. Votes: 0

I never go online on my iPhone. Sometimes I'm tempted but I remind myself and the kids - it's a tool. Use it as a tool. You're not the tool. My iPhone, 85% of the time I'm writing down ideas. Votes: 0

I only pick one thing; North, South, East or West. I just get on the road and go. That's the point. The only governor I give myself is what's the time limit. Votes: 0

I personally don't like to go see romantic comedies. But people do want to see them, and they seem to want to see me in them. Votes: 0

I say to the paparazzi, 'Fellas, take your shot and go.' It's just they usually find me on a beach. Votes: 0

I talk to myself all the time. Just make sure you answer. Votes: 0

I think I can keep a rhythm to a beat, but there are quite a few people who would argue with me. Votes: 0

I think it's because we're looking for the meaning. Where is the meaning? We have mindless jobs, we take frantic vacations, deficit finance trips to the mall to buy more things that we think are going to fill these holes in our lives. Is it any wonder that we've lost our sense of direction? Votes: 0

I was raised on, 'You go get a nine-to-five job, earn your pay and work your way up. Votes: 0

I work through life with commas. I don't even know, do you have parentheticals? Votes: 0

I'm a fan of the word selfish. Self. Ish. When I say I have gotten a lot more self-ish, I mean I am less concerned with what people think of me. I'm not worried about how I'm perceived. Selfish has always gotten a bad rap. You should do for you. Votes: 0

If I'm doing something I do like to take it to the limit. I've got a high ceiling. A wide threshold for seeing what those boundaries are for myself. I'm very resilient inside. I find things that I like and do and boy, I do like to stick to them. I'm not necessarily a guy who gets addicted to more of certain things, but if I find something I like to do, I like to stick to it. Votes: 0

If you want your hair to be thicker, cut it when the moon is about to be full"”a heavy, full, waxing moon. Do not cut it when the moon's waning. Votes: 0

I'm a pretty loyal guy with friends and family, I've had the same friends for a long time. Votes: 0

I'm not trying to put on airs for anybody. I'm only trying to impress myself by doing the best job I can do. Votes: 0

In romantic comedies there's a certain ceiling and a floor that you can't necessarily love as hard, or hate as hard, or have as much pain, because you sink the shop of the romantic comedy. But in a certain drama, like some of the ones I've been doing, the ceiling and the floor was my own. And in many ways, that was a higher ceiling and a lower floor, so that was more of a band-with for those emotions. Votes: 0

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Votes: 0

It's nice when they notice the deep voice from across the house, and they know it's papa. They know it's Dad. Votes: 0

It's one of the things I love about making films: the places I've got to travel that I would never have gone to before. Votes: 0

Life is not a popularity contest. Take the hill, but first answer the question: What is my hill?. Votes: 0

Life is not fair, it never was and it is now and it won't ever be. Do not fall into the trap. The entitlement trap, of feeling like you're a victim. You are not. Votes: 0

Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you get good at. Votes: 0

Man shall not live by bread alone. Votes: 0

My best quality is that I'm a big hearted person. I'm resilient, too. My worst quality is selfishness, although everyone is guilty of that to an extent. Everyone should be, I think - you need to respect yourself. Votes: 0

My father "“ who I know is up there right now, with a big pot of gumbo, he's got a lemon meringue pie, he's probably in his underwear, and he's got a cold can of Miller Lite "“ and he's dancing. Votes: 0

My last name is originally Irish. I'm not exactly sure whereabouts it's from, but I've got family branches that were traced back there. Votes: 0

Offers dried up after a few years and it was like I had fallen off the radar. Votes: 0

See, 'A Time to Kill' was the one I got famous off of. Big ka-boom, over one weekend. After that, I did films that I really wanted to do. Votes: 0

So, to any of us, whatever those things are, whatever it is we look up to, whatever it is we look forward to, and whoever it is we're chasing, to that I say, 'Amen.' To that I say, 'Alright, alright, alright.' To that I say 'just keep living.' Thank you. Votes: 0

Some things, you just like what you like and you stick to it. Other things, you like what you like, but the things that come with celebrity or success comes more options. There's was nine, all of the sudden there's ninety-nine things to say "yes" to, which you didn't have the option to say "yes" to yesterday. Votes: 0

That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age. Votes: 0

The best education I've had in my life is to travel. Votes: 0

The challenge for me as an actor is if you become a celebrity, you don't meet strangers anymore. And strangers are where we have our anonymity. And I believe it's essential for the soul to be anonymous, especially if you're going to be an actor. Votes: 0

The first step that leads to our identity in life is usually not 'I know who I am,' but rather 'I know who I am not.' Votes: 0

The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Votes: 0

The hardest thing was going through different stages of weight loss. At the beginning, it was easy to take off the weight with exercise and eating less but then you reach a point where 90% of the weight loss is achieved purely through reducing your calorie intake. My goal was to lose four lbs per week and that worked well for the first few months but then things got tricky. Votes: 0

The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Votes: 0

The law says you cannot touch, but I see a lot of lawbreakers up in this house. Votes: 0

The older you get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin' man, l-i-v-i-n' Votes: 0

The one thing that will be the bane of my existence with my kid will probably be the way he or she is most like me in some ways. Votes: 0

The tree is known by his fruit. Votes: 0

There are three things, to my account, that I need each day. One of them is something to look up to, another is something to look forward to, and another is someone to chase. Votes: 0

Traveling is a great love of mine. I love South America and Africa. I'm your ultimate backpacker when I'm away. It's just me and my backpack. It's good for getting away from the industry. Votes: 0

Try not to make a straight line crooked. Votes: 0

'Unbelievable' is the stupidest word in the dictionary. Votes: 0

Vanity is great motivation, to be fair. Votes: 0

When you've got God, you got a friend. And that friend is you. Votes: 0

Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Votes: 0

Yes, it is the Big Easy, home of the shortest hangover on the planet, where libation can greet you on Monday morning with the same smile as it did on Saturday night. Votes: 0

You know who it is? It's me in 10 years. So I turned 25. Ten years later, that same person comes to me and says, 'So, are you a hero?' And I was like, 'not even close. No, no, no.' She said, 'Why?' I said, 'Because my hero's me at 35.' So you see every day, every week, every month and every year of my life, my hero's always 10 years away. I'm never gonna be my hero. I'm not gonna attain that. I know I'm not, and that's just fine with me because that keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing. Votes: 0

I'm obsessed with trying to understand what somebody is talking about and trying to get them to understand me. Votes: 0

Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Votes: 0

A drunk doesn't try to stand up; a drunk tries not to fall down. Votes: 0