Dick Van Dyke Quotes

It's difficult because nothing's preordained by plan and you can't control it. That's one of those joys and thrills and nerve-racking realities of being an actor. A lot has to do with luck, no matter what your talent or contribution can be.

Acting is a mix of luck and choice. I got lucky.

With writing, timing is everything. Being in the right place at the right time.

Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.

Money does not choose people.

To make a fortune some assistance from fate is essential. Ability alone is insufficient.

I do feel I have all the qualities of a film star but then why didn't I make it that big? I blame it on my destiny. I was not there at the right place at the right time.

'Some day,' I said, 'I will be an author.'

I never dreamed about being on a hit television series. I've never really related my dreams to that specific of a work goal. I was always enjoying the moment. Acting, writing, looking for roles and getting involved with people and trying to create something that would be entertaining to people. With "E.R." we were all very lucky to get this combination of people together in the right story in the right way to take it to the level it has reached.

I needed time to stand back and go through a lot more experience in life. Then I have something to write about, joke or to animate.

The only thing I ever learned was that some people are lucky and other people aren't and not even a graduate of the Harvard Business School can say why.

I think luck is a big part of people who are successful in L.A.

I start with characters, and then I start writing, and then, if I'm lucky, things start to happen.

It is difficult to understand why I am so famous. I never thought I wanted to be an actress. I never thought about it. I think it is my destiny to be in this business.

Timing in life is everything.

I suppose sequels are inevitable for a writer of a certain age.

Seems to me that this business, for actors anyway, is not so much about whether or not you do good work. It's about whether or not you get the chance to do good work.

I'm lucky. Hard work is the key, but luck plays a part.

You don't know for sure why things happen, but you know, it did! It was my time to go on the show and I'm excited to see what my future holds.

One who doesn't throw the dice can never expect to score a six.

Fortune has rarely condescended to be the companion of genius.

My dream was, and always had been, to write a book. To be a writer.

A business like acting is 90% luck. You can be a star one minute and out of work the next.

I grew up around books. When I first held the book and it was a substantive, tangible thing, and I thought of all the work that went into it, not just my work but everybody else's and the research and so forth, there's a sense of really have done something worthwhile.

I am a great believer in luck.