Terrence Howard

And, so yeah, I'll always want to work in independent films because you're not forced into a category or a formula.

I am an engineer, but what I find important and necessary is that you just learn things as you go along.

I just wanted to be a scientist.

You just drop a character like this that and the other and it's done.

Every little job becomes a dream, and you don't recall it anymore, and maybe you might have a deja vu moment, but it's like something you dreamed earlier.

I ad lib. I've gotta bring my own into it.

I don't have any love for this business or the game or for acting. This is my day job.

The difference with Cleveland is that the racial tension was not a casual taste of it. It was outlandish.

And I'm very surprised that all this stuff actually worked out to where I could have a career in film, gain the benefit of my education, and be thankful that I was able to break into my craft as an actor.

No, most of the decisions that I make with regard to taking roles, I just look for something that's challenging, something that I think I can accomplish, you know.

Don't just view me as an actor.

And right now I may just be living inside the heart of the body, and I one day hope to move to the brain.

All the things we have to remember, and I've mentioned this before, is that we're all artists.

Every one of us is an artist, and as an artist, you really can stroll into any venue that you want, as long as you take your time to learn the etiquette of that venue.

Every artist has to grow, and has to challenge themselves with a new form of expression.

The reason that I'm an actor, or an artist, is ultimately because I'm trying to paint a self-portrait, and the most complete and beautiful self-portrait that you can.

My future's about trying to be a better man.

I like to watch mankind in its futile attempt to understand the unknown, when they don't even understand that which they know.

In every person we meet there's this little piece of God in them and that's who you talk to. And that's the only person that you allow to talk to you. When something else is speaking, you walk away from that. If it's not good, if it's not love, you walk away from it.

When you hear buzz around the beehive, you know they're making honey in there.

The purpose of my life is being a father to my kids and being a husband to my wife.

So I show appreciation for the little gifts that have been handed to me.

I can't tell you if one day I'll be standing up there with an Oscar or directing, but I am going to be the best human being I possibly can.

We both can be the most beautiful and benevolent creatures on the planet, but then there's another side that can be as harsh and as ugly as the darkest thing you could imagine seeing.

I don't think President Obama has been that revolutionary in reaching out to ethnic communities. President Reagan did a lot for the black community that people don't realize.