James Garner should be an example when discussing classic actors who knew their worth. Money and fame didn't excite him, so Garner didn't have an issue leaving a company or production when he felt unwanted. He's so inspirational in terms of self-confidence that many of his quotes can be used for motivational purposes.
Here are six timeless quotes that prove the actor was the REAL DEAL. These quotes, despite being from a different era, still resonate today and reflect Garner's ability to stand up for himself (and be real.)
Check your ego; focus on what you can control and keep it moving.
"I don't take success very well, because I know it's fleeting. And the next day, it can all fall apart. I know that, too. So I don't get too high, and I don't get too low. You get through the world a lot easier that way."
Be open to learning; you will never know EVERYTHING
"Learning is a gift, even if pain is the teacher"
Life is what you make it; put your best foot forward.
"I just want to know the momentary fact about things. Life isn't good, or bad, or true. It's merely factual, it's sensual, it's alive. My idea of living sensual facts are you, a home, a country, a world, a universe, in that order."
BE REAL
"You put on a face for the public. The face isn't false; it's just another side of you. If it were false, you couldn't last. People want something real and natural, and if they catch you acting, you're dead. It has to look real. In order to look real, it has to be real, and I've always thought of the characters I've played as real people."
Be YOUR definition of a star
"I got into the business to put a roof over my head. I wasn't looking for star status. I just wanted to keep working."
Your success is YOURS!
"I didn't want somebody in an office guiding my career. If I had a failure, I wanted it to be my failure. If I had a success, I wanted it to be my success."