Richard Greenberg Quotes

What I adore is supreme professionalism. I’m bored by writers who can write only when it’s raining.

It's my job to really commit myself to the material and the project and be proud of what I've done, and I am in most cases.

Like everyone else, there are days when I don't want to go to work. However, writing is a job like anything else.

I found one had to do some work every day, even at midnight, because either you're professional or you're not.

People love to say we get paid a lot of money to play a game, but it stopped being a game when you start getting paid.

I went to work. That was a turning point. When you have to do eight shows a week and your name is on the marquee, no matter what is going on at home or what's on the cover of the newspapers, you've got to do your job.

Actors are people who are doing a job they want to do, which isn't the case for many of the people who watch what we do.

You know, I always do my best, no matter the quality of the film.

I don't work with inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work.

If you think I write stories where it is all right to just be good enough, are you kidding? You think I have a cavalier attitude on throwing stuff out? Are you kidding? I am not cavalier about what I do for a living.

All of us are professionals and no player wants not to play.

For me, call me what you want, as long as I'm working.

When you're working in service to a big project, there's always the question of, 'Is there total freedom to do what I think is right artistically, or is this a job?' It's okay for things to be a job. I'm perfectly comfortable working. I don't need to sit around and quench whatever personal artistic thirst I have at all times.

I've always been the kind of person that if I take on anything professionally it means commitment to me, so you take it on if you can commit to it and if you know you can accommodate and give your best to it and that's what you do, and I have always done that throughout my life - before marriage, after marriage, before motherhood, after motherhood.

I don't judge people who just hit "play," but I would judge myself if I did that. I wouldn't feel like I was earning my money, I'd feel like I was putting one over on people. I have to play the notes.

A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do his job when he does feel like it.

The leading rule for the lawyer, as for the man of every other calling, is diligence. Leave nothing for to-morrow which can be done to-day.

You might meet a guy who turns out to be the best guy you've worked with. They don't have to be some name brand person. I've met a lot of lower level actors and directors who were terrific; that are as good as any other A level director or actor, they just don't get the recognition. So I'm happy working with anybody who wants to show up to play the game and has a clue.

The truly great actors, like Charlize Theron, are just like, "I'm an actor. For hire. I show up, I do my job." There's no "I'm just waiting for the inspiration." They just do their jobs. They say, "Let's go over the scene a few times and get it."

I think the reason I've survived that long is because I've taken my work so seriously. Maybe sometimes too seriously, but it's always been important for me to do my best regardless of the film. I think the biggest compliment I get is when people on the street stop me and say they've liked the choices I've made.

The competition, the naysayers, the owners who talk too much. The people who don't think a 36-year-old can do what I do. I take a lot of pride in my craft, I work really hard at my craft everyday, and I'm a true professional.

All through my career I've written 1,000 words a day - even if I've got a hangover. You've got to discipline yourself if you're professional. There's no other way.

I don't believe in inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs. Some of the time you know you're cooking, and the rest of the time, you just do it.

It's part of my responsibility, as an actor who has been lucky enough to have this job, to take my job very seriously, show up on time, know my lines, and give the best performance that I can because I'm doing something that so many other people work very hard to have and never get.

I hold every man a debtor to his profession.