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155 Top Quotes By Michael Douglas On Marriage, Love, Family & Cancer

Famous As: One of the Most Popular and Critically Acclaimed Actors of His Generation
Born On: September 25, 1944
Born In: New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Age: 78 Years

Known for his quirky sense of humour, Michael Douglas can come up with the most controversial statements. But it is his honest and unapologetic words that make for the most interesting quotes. This Oscar winning thespian has starred is several successful Hollywood movies and has even won a Best Actor Oscar. He has battled tongue cancer and has been very vocal about his struggle with the disease. His marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones, 25 years his junior, may have raised eyebrows but his successful marriage makes him an inspiring figure. Here are some of his most interesting pieces of opinion on emotions, family, love, marriage, happiness, people, films, career, and cancer. 

For an actor, its great fun to play one of these hungry white sharks. Audiences love to hate them.

For an actor, its great fun to play one of these hungry white sharks. Audiences love to hate them.

Michael Douglas
It's difficult for me to meet women because my crowd is much older. I know that for some of the young women I do meet, a relationship with me can be envisioned as a benefit to their career.

It's difficult for me to meet women because my crowd is much older. I know that for some of the young women I do meet, a relationship with me can be envisioned as a benefit to their career.

Michael Douglas
I've always tried to kind of stretch my wings as an actor and do things that are different.

I've always tried to kind of stretch my wings as an actor and do things that are different.

Michael Douglas
I'm not a big filmophile. I don't watch movies a lot for a hobby. I spend all my time watching sporting events. Because, opposed to movies, you can never tell how they're going to end.

I'm not a big filmophile. I don't watch movies a lot for a hobby. I spend all my time watching sporting events. Because, opposed to movies, you can never tell how they're going to end.

Michael Douglas
I am a Jew. Those are four words of pride. My Jewishness is as deep as my genes.

I am a Jew. Those are four words of pride. My Jewishness is as deep as my genes.

Michael Douglas
Basketball is great; no one in Europe seems to believe just how close the spectators can sit to the players.

Basketball is great; no one in Europe seems to believe just how close the spectators can sit to the players.

Michael Douglas
A fool and his money are lucky enough to get together in the first place.

A fool and his money are lucky enough to get together in the first place.

Michael Douglas
What's worth doing is worth doing for money.

What's worth doing is worth doing for money.

Michael Douglas
Everything's so repressive now - it's the No generation. You can't do anything, you can't eat anything, you have to abstain.

Everything's so repressive now - it's the No generation. You can't do anything, you can't eat anything, you have to abstain.

Michael Douglas
Since Catherine [Zeta-Jones] and I got together, I've cut back dramatically. My priorities changed, and I still love acting and all that, but not as much as I love watching my two kids grow up.

Since Catherine [Zeta-Jones] and I got together, I've cut back dramatically. My priorities changed, and I still love acting and all that, but not as much as I love watching my two kids grow up.

Michael Douglas
Even when you're acting with a producing hat, when you're in every scene, you're really conscious of trying to make everybody as good as they are, because ultimately you're trying to make the best movie possible.

Even when you're acting with a producing hat, when you're in every scene, you're really conscious of trying to make everybody as good as they are, because ultimately you're trying to make the best movie possible.

Michael Douglas
Human Rights for everyone is the necessary foundation upon which all of us may build a world where everybody may live in peace and serenity and plenty.

Human Rights for everyone is the necessary foundation upon which all of us may build a world where everybody may live in peace and serenity and plenty.

Michael Douglas
I dont know about Brad Pitt leaving that beautiful woman to go hold orphans for Angelina. I mean how long is that going to last?

I dont know about Brad Pitt leaving that beautiful woman to go hold orphans for Angelina. I mean how long is that going to last?

Michael Douglas
The history of second-generation actors isn't great in our industry.

The history of second-generation actors isn't great in our industry.

Michael Douglas
In this whole digital age, where everything is so exposed, rather than trying to keep something private, you try to get out ahead of the curve and limit the amount of gossip.

In this whole digital age, where everything is so exposed, rather than trying to keep something private, you try to get out ahead of the curve and limit the amount of gossip.

Michael Douglas
Greed is good! Greed is right! Greed works! Greed will save the U.S.A.!

Greed is good! Greed is right! Greed works! Greed will save the U.S.A.!

Michael Douglas
Suddenly you've worked yourself up to the top of the pecking order and you say to yourself, okay, this is going to be fun.

Suddenly you've worked yourself up to the top of the pecking order and you say to yourself, okay, this is going to be fun.

Michael Douglas
That's why I'm such a big sports fan, with sports you can never guess what's gonna happen. Most movies you get halfway through and you can kind of guess the ending.

That's why I'm such a big sports fan, with sports you can never guess what's gonna happen. Most movies you get halfway through and you can kind of guess the ending.

Michael Douglas
There's nothing like a family crisis, especially a divorce, to force a person to re-evaluate his life.

There's nothing like a family crisis, especially a divorce, to force a person to re-evaluate his life.

Michael Douglas
It's a phenomenon that I see with young actors - a lot of American speaking parts going to British actors.

It's a phenomenon that I see with young actors - a lot of American speaking parts going to British actors.

Michael Douglas
When you're making pictures out of heartfelt passion, it hurts when someone calls them a calculated business move.

When you're making pictures out of heartfelt passion, it hurts when someone calls them a calculated business move.

Michael Douglas
Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.

Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.

Michael Douglas
Never knew how poor I was until I started making money.

Never knew how poor I was until I started making money.

Michael Douglas
Someone reminded me I once said, 'Greed is good.' Now it seems it's legal.

Someone reminded me I once said, 'Greed is good.' Now it seems it's legal.

Michael Douglas
My brain cannot conceive how old my body is.

My brain cannot conceive how old my body is.

Michael Douglas
Wherever arms flow, violence follows. Bullets replace ballots as the solution to political disputes.

Wherever arms flow, violence follows. Bullets replace ballots as the solution to political disputes.

Michael Douglas
I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work.

I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work.

Michael Douglas
Oh, I get it, it's simple. PG means the hero gets the girl, 15 means that the villain gets the girl, and 18 means everybody gets the girl.

Oh, I get it, it's simple. PG means the hero gets the girl, 15 means that the villain gets the girl, and 18 means everybody gets the girl.

Michael Douglas
Money itself isn’t lost or made.  It’s simply transferred from one perception to another.

Money itself isn’t lost or made. It’s simply transferred from one perception to another.

Michael Douglas
You have to make entertaining movies. But like a good meal, it's nice to have a little food for thought after you walk out of the theater rather than just wiling away a couple of hours.

You have to make entertaining movies. But like a good meal, it's nice to have a little food for thought after you walk out of the theater rather than just wiling away a couple of hours.

Michael Douglas
We must unite to make nuclear weapons a horror of the past.

We must unite to make nuclear weapons a horror of the past.

Michael Douglas
Cigar smoking by it's very nature is much more reflective than interactive.

Cigar smoking by it's very nature is much more reflective than interactive.

Michael Douglas
Relationships are like bubbles – they’re fragile.

Relationships are like bubbles – they’re fragile.

Michael Douglas
Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies and cuts through to the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies and cuts through to the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Michael Douglas
Cancer did not bring me to my knees, it brought me to my feet.

Cancer did not bring me to my knees, it brought me to my feet.

Michael Douglas
It's all about bucks, kid. The rest is conversation.

It's all about bucks, kid. The rest is conversation.

Michael Douglas
Being single is pretty good. It's a nice sense of irresponsibility.

Being single is pretty good. It's a nice sense of irresponsibility.

Michael Douglas
Players never die - they just try their luck at another table.

Players never die - they just try their luck at another table.

Michael Douglas
Out there is nothing but possibilities.

Out there is nothing but possibilities.

Michael Douglas
If we confront anti-Semitism ... if we combat it individually and as a society, and use whatever platform we have to denounce it, we can stop the spread of this madness.

If we confront anti-Semitism ... if we combat it individually and as a society, and use whatever platform we have to denounce it, we can stop the spread of this madness.

Michael Douglas
I don't look good in tights. I know that.

I don't look good in tights. I know that.

Michael Douglas
I've just kind of been used to carrying movies. I look back and I'm just used to being in every single scene in a lot of pictures.

I've just kind of been used to carrying movies. I look back and I'm just used to being in every single scene in a lot of pictures.

Michael Douglas
'King of California' was just, I thought, a really great, fresh, original kind of script. I loved the tone, the mix of tragedy, comedy, and drama, and that it was a good part.

'King of California' was just, I thought, a really great, fresh, original kind of script. I loved the tone, the mix of tragedy, comedy, and drama, and that it was a good part.

Michael Douglas
Every empire eventually falls.

Every empire eventually falls.

Michael Douglas
My mother is Bermudan, so I had a lot of memories when I was a kid, used to go down to Bermuda a lot.

My mother is Bermudan, so I had a lot of memories when I was a kid, used to go down to Bermuda a lot.

Michael Douglas
'Five Easy Pieces,' 'Easy Rider' - those are indie pictures; those were not studio pictures. They had relationships with studio distribution, but they were indies.

'Five Easy Pieces,' 'Easy Rider' - those are indie pictures; those were not studio pictures. They had relationships with studio distribution, but they were indies.

Michael Douglas
'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' which my father had tried to get made for six, seven years, and I for four, was turned down by every studio. Every studio in the world had passed on it.

'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' which my father had tried to get made for six, seven years, and I for four, was turned down by every studio. Every studio in the world had passed on it.

Michael Douglas
The so-called 'last golden age,' in the 1970s, most of those movies were independent films.

The so-called 'last golden age,' in the 1970s, most of those movies were independent films.

Michael Douglas
I think the quality of television, given the amount of time you have, how short you have, is proportionally so much better than most movies.

I think the quality of television, given the amount of time you have, how short you have, is proportionally so much better than most movies.

Michael Douglas
All the pictures I do are contemporary. I've sort of discovered I haven't really been into science fiction or period pictures. And so, in that vein, psychological thrillers play a big part.

All the pictures I do are contemporary. I've sort of discovered I haven't really been into science fiction or period pictures. And so, in that vein, psychological thrillers play a big part.

Michael Douglas
I had a great stepfather.

I had a great stepfather.

Michael Douglas
I was undeclared. I was in my third year of school. They said you have to decide upon a major, and my father was an actor. My mother was an actress. So, I thought theater might be the way to go.

I was undeclared. I was in my third year of school. They said you have to decide upon a major, and my father was an actor. My mother was an actress. So, I thought theater might be the way to go.

Michael Douglas
Celebrity gets you access to world leaders.

Celebrity gets you access to world leaders.

Michael Douglas
Capitalism is part of our system, but it's not for the faint of heart.

Capitalism is part of our system, but it's not for the faint of heart.

Michael Douglas
I've always liked Tina Turner.

I've always liked Tina Turner.

Michael Douglas
When I was working on pictures with my father, there were a couple leading ladies to whom I wish I'd expressed how I felt rather than being too cool or too shy.

When I was working on pictures with my father, there were a couple leading ladies to whom I wish I'd expressed how I felt rather than being too cool or too shy.

Michael Douglas
The people who work in Wall Street still look up to Gordon Gekko. He's sort of a guru.

The people who work in Wall Street still look up to Gordon Gekko. He's sort of a guru.

Michael Douglas
I never really look at my movies.

I never really look at my movies.

Michael Douglas
I have hardly ever worked with the same director twice. But when you have worked with a director before, you understand his behavior.

I have hardly ever worked with the same director twice. But when you have worked with a director before, you understand his behavior.

Michael Douglas
'Wall Street' was a very important movie for me in terms of my career. I won an Oscar, and then the film 'Fatal Attraction' came right after it.

'Wall Street' was a very important movie for me in terms of my career. I won an Oscar, and then the film 'Fatal Attraction' came right after it.

Michael Douglas
I've never been one to carefully calculate my career decisions, to sit on the outside looking in. I go with my passion and what moves me.

I've never been one to carefully calculate my career decisions, to sit on the outside looking in. I go with my passion and what moves me.

Michael Douglas
There is something about seeing rhinos and lions running free that excites you. It's not that you feel afraid; it's more like you're liberated by seeing them.

There is something about seeing rhinos and lions running free that excites you. It's not that you feel afraid; it's more like you're liberated by seeing them.

Michael Douglas
If your work isn't exciting, doesn't stir the emotions, where's the challenge? Where's the progress if you always play it safe?

If your work isn't exciting, doesn't stir the emotions, where's the challenge? Where's the progress if you always play it safe?

Michael Douglas
Learning patience was not an easy lesson.

Learning patience was not an easy lesson.

Michael Douglas
Kids know. They know everything. I would err on the side of pretty much sharing everything.

Kids know. They know everything. I would err on the side of pretty much sharing everything.

Michael Douglas
When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.

When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.

Michael Douglas
I tell my kids they are going to live to over 100.

I tell my kids they are going to live to over 100.

Michael Douglas
I think sometimes in relationships, ladies like having a man who takes care of them, nurtures them. If you can't find it in a man your own age, you find it in somebody who is older.

I think sometimes in relationships, ladies like having a man who takes care of them, nurtures them. If you can't find it in a man your own age, you find it in somebody who is older.

Michael Douglas
Chemotherapy takes its toll; the more you keep doing it, you lose your energy, and it gets more difficult to swallow.

Chemotherapy takes its toll; the more you keep doing it, you lose your energy, and it gets more difficult to swallow.

Michael Douglas
I haven't played a lot of nice guys.

I haven't played a lot of nice guys.

Michael Douglas
Liberace was a lovely guy.

Liberace was a lovely guy.

Michael Douglas
The thing with cancer is that you want to get it as early as you can.

The thing with cancer is that you want to get it as early as you can.

Michael Douglas
Of course it's important to make mistakes, as long as you grow from them.

Of course it's important to make mistakes, as long as you grow from them.

Michael Douglas
I've taken blame about being a bad father - if being a bad father is working your butt off trying to create a career at one time.

I've taken blame about being a bad father - if being a bad father is working your butt off trying to create a career at one time.

Michael Douglas
To me, Bermuda is a real family spot.

To me, Bermuda is a real family spot.

Michael Douglas
Cancer has shown me what family is. It showed me a love that I never knew really existed.

Cancer has shown me what family is. It showed me a love that I never knew really existed.

Michael Douglas
I went into rehab to save my marriage, but I wound up saving myself.

I went into rehab to save my marriage, but I wound up saving myself.

Michael Douglas
It took me too long to realise that if you go to a marriage counsellor to resolve problems, it's in his interest to keep the marriage going.

It took me too long to realise that if you go to a marriage counsellor to resolve problems, it's in his interest to keep the marriage going.

Michael Douglas
My daughter is a horseback rider, so I try to watch her ride; we take holidays together.

My daughter is a horseback rider, so I try to watch her ride; we take holidays together.

Michael Douglas
I love kids, and I love having had this second chance to have a family.

I love kids, and I love having had this second chance to have a family.

Michael Douglas
I thought I could never be the actor Dad was, so I avoided it for a while.

I thought I could never be the actor Dad was, so I avoided it for a while.

Michael Douglas
During my first marriage, my career was the most important thing in my life.

During my first marriage, my career was the most important thing in my life.

Michael Douglas
There are not a lot of sons or daughters of actors who have made it. Hollywood is awash with failures.

There are not a lot of sons or daughters of actors who have made it. Hollywood is awash with failures.

Michael Douglas
Like my father, like most actors, I was a pretty ambitious guy.

Like my father, like most actors, I was a pretty ambitious guy.

Michael Douglas
My father did 90-plus films. He was Spartacus!

My father did 90-plus films. He was Spartacus!

Michael Douglas
Paul Rudd is ripped.

Paul Rudd is ripped.

Michael Douglas
I don't wish ill will on anybody.

I don't wish ill will on anybody.

Michael Douglas
In the movie 'Wall Street' I play Gordon Gekko, a greedy corporate executive who cheated to profit while innocent investors lost their savings. The movie was fiction, but the problem is real.

In the movie 'Wall Street' I play Gordon Gekko, a greedy corporate executive who cheated to profit while innocent investors lost their savings. The movie was fiction, but the problem is real.

Michael Douglas
If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Michael Douglas
Our economy is increasingly dependent on the success and integrity of the financial markets.

Our economy is increasingly dependent on the success and integrity of the financial markets.

Michael Douglas
The quality of health care in Canada is excellent.

The quality of health care in Canada is excellent.

Michael Douglas
I don't think tongue cancer is the best cancer for an actor.

I don't think tongue cancer is the best cancer for an actor.

Michael Douglas
I have some idea of the pressure of finding your own identity with a famous father.

I have some idea of the pressure of finding your own identity with a famous father.

Michael Douglas
Religion has certainly been shoved down my throat.

Religion has certainly been shoved down my throat.

Michael Douglas
I try not to dwell too much on a bad marriage.

I try not to dwell too much on a bad marriage.

Michael Douglas
Most of the stories I read are about my Hollywood pedigree.

Most of the stories I read are about my Hollywood pedigree.

Michael Douglas
My mother and father met at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He was a senior and she was a junior, and their marriage didn't last very long.

My mother and father met at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He was a senior and she was a junior, and their marriage didn't last very long.

Michael Douglas
I come from a tough stock.

I come from a tough stock.

Michael Douglas
I guess there are some women who like older men, but it's a smaller group.

I guess there are some women who like older men, but it's a smaller group.

Michael Douglas
Serious is when they tell you, 'You've got cancer.' Cancer is serious, but then the rest of it is not.

Serious is when they tell you, 'You've got cancer.' Cancer is serious, but then the rest of it is not.

Michael Douglas
I don't ever do those kind of epic, huge, green-screen movies.

I don't ever do those kind of epic, huge, green-screen movies.

Michael Douglas
For a long time, I can't say I was one who really enjoyed acting. I was always censoring it, or editing it, or analyzing it, rather than just going with it.

For a long time, I can't say I was one who really enjoyed acting. I was always censoring it, or editing it, or analyzing it, rather than just going with it.

Michael Douglas