The only way to find the best actor would be to let everybody play Hamlet and let the best man win. - Humphrey Bogart

The Oscar is the most valuable, but least expensive, item of world-wide public relations ever invented by any industry. - Frank Capra

What does the Academy Award mean? I don't think it means much of anything. - Sally Field

The Golden Globes are fun. The Oscars are Business. - Warren Beatty

The Oscars demonstrate the will of the people to control and judge those they have elected to stand above them much, perhaps, as in bygone days, an election celebrated the same. - David Mamet

Oscar Acceptance Speeches:

Oscar and I have something in common. Oscar first came to Hollywood scene in 1928. So did I. We're both a little weather-beaten, but we're still here and plan to be around for a whole lot longer. - John Wayne

What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realize that your outfit cost more than your film. - Jessica Yu, Best Short Subject Documentary

I haven't had an orthodox career and I wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn't feel it, but this time I feel it and I can't deny the fact that you like me—right now, you like me! - Sally Field

I just said to Matt [Damon], 'Losing would suck and winning would be really scary.' And it's really, really scary. - Ben Affleck

No matter what you say to yourself, you do want to win. You try to look casual, like you're not thinking, "oh, please pick me." - Whoopi Goldberg

Am I allowed to say I really wanted this? This is fantastic. - Steven Spielberg

Everybody, I love you. I love you all. I love you. Everybody who's involved with this, I love you. I love you. - Cuba Gooding Jr.

God bless that potential that we all have for making anything possible if we think we deserve it. I deserve this. - Shirley MacLaine

Most of all, I want to thank my father, up there, the man who when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, "Wonderful. Just have a back-up profession like welding." - Robin Williams

Gee, this isn't like I imagined it would be in the bathtub. - Dianne Wiest

I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream. I never thought this would ever happen. - Hillary Swank

It has been a long journey to this moment. - Sidney Poitier

There's been a lot of criticism over the years over this award, and some of that criticism has been warranted. But whether it's warranted or not, I think it's one hell of an honor, and I thank you. - Jack Lemmon

I guess this proves there are as many nuts in the Academy as anywhere else. - Jack Nicholson

Roxy Sorkin, your father just won the Academy Award. I'm going to have to insist on some respect from your guinea pig. - Aaron Sorkin

I, uh...I have a television, so I'm going to spend some time here to tell you some things. [To orchestra conductor:] And, and...and sir, you're doing a great job, but you're so quick with that stick, so why don't you sit. 'Cause I may never be here again. - Julia Roberts

Did I really earn this, or did I just wear you all down? - Sandra Bullock

This is a terrible mistake, because I used up all of my English. - Roberto Benigni, after winning his second Oscar of the night

I know that my work, in this case, is magnified by the fact that the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels. - Tom Hanks, Best Actor for "Philadelphia"

I don't have a sense of entitlement or that I deserve this. You'd be surprised at the lack of competition between nominees - I think a lot of it's imposed from the outside. Can I have my champagne now? - Cate Blanchett

There are a lot of great movies that have won the Academy Award, and a lot of great movies that haven't. You just do the best you can. - Clint Eastwood

Right now I don't know if I have dreamt about this or not. But when you are in the ocean you must swim. Being on the race for the Oscars, logically I want to win. - Pedro Almodovar

Getting a standing ovation was kind of humbling that so many people are so happy that I have been named for this award. A lot of people say you're due - maybe you are, maybe you aren't - it's an accolade. - Morgan Freeman

I just want to thank everybody I've ever met in my entire life. - Kim Basinger

This is one night I wish I smoked and drank. - Grace Kelly

I won and I get to scream and jump a little. But I got to go back to work tomorrow. - Benicio del Toro

Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted this. You don't know. - Whoopi Goldberg

As a little kid, I lived in the projects and you're the people I watched. You're the people who made me want to be an actor. I'm so proud to be here. - Whoopi Goldberg

[Regarding his grandmother]: She still talks to me now, only now she talks to me in my dreams. And I can't wait to go to sleep tonight because we have a lot to talk about. I love you. - Jamie Foxx

I am king of the world! - James Cameron

This moment is so much bigger than me. It's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened. - Halle Berry

[After planting a kiss on Halle Berry]: I bet they didn't tell you that was in the gift bag. - Adrien Brody

It is possible for a kid from east Texas, raised in South Central L.A. and Carson, who believes in his dreams, commits himself to them with his heart, to touch them, and to have them happen. - Forest Whitaker

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