River Phoenix

“We are taught to consume. And that's what we do. But if we realized that there really is no reason to consume, that it's just a mind set, that it's just an addiction, then we wouldn't be out...”

“We were constantly moving to different countries and adjusting to new things. It was such a free feeling. I'm glad I didn't have a traditional upbringing.”

“I did my best work in The Mosquito Coast. I know it wasn't such a big hit, but for me it was more meaningful than anything else I'd ever done.”

“Rich kids gave us their old clothes. They were the best clothes we ever had. We were these very pure, naive, poor children. The rich kids called us a lot of names but it never bothered us be...”

“When I was old enough to realize all meat was killed, I saw it as an irrational way of using our power, to take a weaker thing and mutilate it. It was like the way bullies would take control...”

“I don't want to die in a car accident. When I die it'll be a glorious day. It'll probably be a waterfall.”

“I have a lot of chameleon qualities, I get very absorbed in my surroundings.”

“Commercials were too phony for me. I just didn't like selling products I didn't believe in.”

“I sometimes lie, especially about personal things, because what does it matter? I am a kind of minute commodity, my name is no longer my own.”

“When I was in first grade, everyone made fun of my name, of course. I think it's kind of a big name to hold up when you're nine years old. It seemed goofy. I used to tell people I wanted to...”

“Music is a whole oasis in my head. The creation process is so personal and fulfilling.”

“It's a great feeling to think that I can be a friend to so many people through my movies.”

“Acting is like a Halloween mask that you put on.”

“I wouldn't eat a hamburger for 40,000 dollars.”

“Everything is ironic to me. There are moments I find hysterical, but I'm probably the only one who would find that, except for a few people.”

“Music is a hobby, because I'm not making any money out of it, but I put just as much conviction into that as I do into my acting.”

“It still strikes me as strange that anyone could have any moral objection to someone else's sexuality. It's like telling someone else how to clean their house.”

“I can't on my own change the regime in South Africa or teach the Palestinians to learn to live with the Israelies, but I can start with me.”

“People wonder if I'll always be a part of this family and the answer is yes. My family has a lot of good energy going in one direction and because of it, we get a lot of things done. That's...”

“I'm really normal. I play football, go to the beach, drive. We have dogs. I can imagine people calling me a character, but I'm Joe Straight.”