Jonathan Demme Quotes

I have a fear of failure.

Fear is the ultimate cause of failure and disappointment.

I don't feel secure at all. I don't know what actor would feel they've made it. I feel like I'm just starting.

There are several times when I walked into a room and just felt like such a sham. That's the problem with auditioning.

I was kind of scared of failing at acting.

Words can't describe how one would feel in that moment after doing a test for something you really want but in your heart you don't think you have a chance of getting.

In a way, I'm always trying to do something I'm not qualified to do. So I feel that lack of qualification. And I'm scared. And I have a tendency to think things may not/probably won't work out. That's my basic mindset.

People are afraid of things they don't understand. They don't know how to relate. It threatens their security, their existence, their career, image.

I'm incapable of truly relaxing. I remember when I was younger and less wise or experienced, actors that I knew would always talk about jobs ending and wondering whether they were ever going to work again. Now that's my life.

I've always been a bit of a self-doubter. I think a lot of actors are.

I realized that I was afraid to really, really try something, 100%, because I had never reached true failure.

I knew I wasn't a baseball writer. I was scared to death. I really was afraid to talk to players, and I didn't want to go into the press box because I thought I was faking it.

People think that if you've written a book and somebody's given you a pat on the back then, you know, it's all - you're all settled, you know? You're going to be fine. I know that if I'm not confused, and really afraid, my work isn't going to be any good.

Anything you can suck at should make you nervous.

I'm probably the most pessimistic actor I know. I'm always sure I'll never work again.

Sometimes I panic and think I can't really write.

We feel a lot of pressure about looking silly or appearing weak, whatever that means, or being a failure. You have to keep in your head: what's the worst that can happen?

I feel like I'm not smart enough to answer the questions I'm asked.

I worry a lot about what people think. I worry people think I'm not helping them enough, that they don't like my music, that I'm playing a song too fast or talking too fast. I worry my wife isn't happy with our relationship... I'm afraid somebody's going to take my career away from me. That it's going to go away, or I'm going to get fired.

Life is shining a light through a magnifying glass on me, looking for me to stumble. I think that's my biggest fear.

I'm afraid of what happens if this career doesn't pan out, because I have so much invested in it that I can't turn back now.

I'm always nervous when I start a new picture.

Every time I do something, I worry it's my last job.

There's times where you think, 'Gosh, what if nobody ever wants to hear what I have to say?'

Every time I do something or release something or announce a new project, there's always that fear that it won't go well.