Richard Marx Quotes

I'm afraid of being too sure, to just deliver. I think that's the biggest danger for actors - after a certain time, when you're known and recognised, people expect you to do what you're supposed to do, and there's almost no more criticism and that's very dangerous.

I think [the spotlight] is a lonely place to be. Everybodys wanting something from you, pulling at you.

The hard part about getting much attention is that people start dissecting what you do.

If you lead a public life, people are much more on to you than you think.

When something or someone is hyped and you're put on the forefront of a lot of things, people want to tear you down. That's kind of scary, especially when you're not really putting yourself out there.

If you're good, you're always looking over your shoulder.

I know I'll be under a spotlight, I know I'll be under the microscope.

You get held to a high standard, almost an unmaintainable standard, in the public eye that you don't even come close to touching.

I wait for death and journalists.

I feel like it's harder because everyone knows I'm the three-time world champion - it's almost like people are waiting for something bad to happen.

When I started out playing live, it was different. I felt good about it. Nobody knew who I was. I just opened for so-and-so. Now, I'm playing to people who are coming out to see the band. There's too much attention on the band and me.

I've always been distracted when somebody is coming after me and saying, "You're the only person who can play this part."

There are a lot of spikes that can happen when what you're doing starts to get attention or people start to talk about it. They can just kind of really do a number on your reasons for making music.

If you ask any of the other actors, they'd probably say nice things because they're nice people, but I was always like, "Oh gosh, I hope I'm doing this right." I was very hard on myself, and I continue to be. That's why it's sometimes hard for me to digest watching myself on television. There is some pressure.

I think the level of criticism you're under is never healthy. I think that's why lots of people in Hollywood end up in rehab. There are the ups and downs. I was never a fan of the attention.

I guess a lot of times pressure is put on something after it becomes big.

Once your name gets out, people just want to crack you.

I beat myself up in the studio because I know that a lot of people are expecting me to fail.

I think after doing a few shows now, people are ready to put me down.

I think when I was younger, I wanted to be a star, until I became a star, and then it's a lot of work. It's work to be a star. I don't enjoy the stardom part. I only enjoy the creative process.

You play for a club like Real Madrid, the people outside start talking.

I didn't like the nervous tension of being a public person.

People win Oscars, and then it seems like they fall off the planet. And that's partly because a huge expectation walks in the room and sits right down on top of your head. The moment I won the Oscar, I felt the teardown the very next day.

I love my fans in Philadelphia, but this is the hardest place in the world to play in. And I think it's the hardest place to play in to be a superstar. Just to be the No. 1 guy. All eyes on you - because everybody wants you to be perfect, but not themselves.

Don't get me wrong. I don't take anything for granted. But it seems like the better I play, the more attention I get. And I can't get away from it. You play great, you get attention. But I hate attention. It is weird. I'm in a bind. The more you win, the more they come.