Anthony Hopkins Quotes

Iago is one of the most liked characters in Shakespeare's canon, and he's the most evil, most extraordinarily manipulative person in history. He says the worst, most politically incorrect things, even for the time the play is set in - and yet audiences adore that character.

The people I've encountered who are really dangerous in my life don't go around with their fangs drawn - they are dangerous because of the way they interpret what's going on.

Yes, I know I've played these women, but I'm not really conniving at all.

In a certain sense, this guy - who is one of the most evil people in the book - he's not really that bad at running the show, because he knows what he's doing, he's smart and he's got the big picture in mind. He's like the Godfather.

I've never gone for the smooth, suave Latin or French lover. That usually makes me think they're trying to pull one over on me.

More often than not, I get cast as quite Machiavellian roles - it's something about my face; I'm quite shifty or something!

I think there are people, and I do not mean this to be disparaging, there are people like Jay Mohr and Jeremy Piven where they just give you that vibe, 'This guy's going to play someone a little venal.'

The qualities necessary for a demagogue are these: to be foul-mouthed, base-born, and a low and mean fellow.

We have come to see him as not vital but violent, not clever but devious, not shrewd but cynical.

Maniacal self-promoter …. Makes Machiavelli look like a simple, straightforward kinda guy.

A man of irregular and insatiable ambition ...who ought not be trusted with the reins of government

The idea of being charming and really nasty at the same time is a really difficult thing to do.

I love Robin Wright's character in 'House of Cards' because she's a bona fide villain. She's a not-nice person in a believable way; you can see her working in the world.

But there is something seductive and the character, Alfie is so charming, and does make you think like you are the most important thing in the world but he's not that nice, is he.

I've come to learn that the determined and gifted and genuine sociopath has far more power to deceive than we realize.

I'm usually the character people love to hate, because I used to play bad girls all the time.

I'm not pretending to be ingenuous; I know what I'm doing.

I think George Bush is one of the most duplicitous presidents we've ever had.

Politicians, most politicians, are, by definition, people without morals and people who know no limits in what they will do to get elected.

[Lyndon Johnson was] the epitome of the unprincipled politician.

This man [Aaron Burr] has no principles, public or private. As a politician, his sole spring of action is an inordinate ambition.

He [Henry Clay] is a bad man, an impostor, a creator of wicked schemes.

Some of the best bad guys in movies are funny and charming.

When it comes to me, I can rule out that I am scheming for a change.

There are people (men and women both, unfortunately) who have no good in them--none. That there are people whom it is necessary to detest without compromise. That there are people who must be dealt with as enemies of the human race. That there are people who have no human heart, and who must be crushed like savage beasts and cleared out of the way