Being an actor, imitating to the point of inhabiting the lives of others, may simply be a way of continuing to do what I learned to do as a boy - to travel, mentally and physically.

— Viggo Mortensen

Be kind. It's worthwhile to make an effort to learn about other people and figure out what you might have in common with them.

— Viggo Mortensen

I don't think Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell fear competition from me in their arena.

— Viggo Mortensen

Ignorance breeds antipathy. Until I got to know how computers worked, I didn't want anything to do with them. I said, 'Well, why do I need them? I write letters.' Which I still do.

— Viggo Mortensen

I have a publishing company of books by me and books of others. It drew people to poetry readings and photo exhibitions and painting exhibitions that I've been doing for years before that.

— Viggo Mortensen

I know I said I wanted to live forever, and I would never be bored, but the reality is, it's probably kind of sad to live forever if you're the only one sticking around.

— Viggo Mortensen

I like the detail work of telling a story in small pieces, as is done in movie-making, and also the long leap of faith needed to see a theater performance through each night. Both require focus and self-discipline.

— Viggo Mortensen

I'm just looking as always for something that's stimulating and I hope to find a good story that's a challenge, whether it's big or small. Or that it finds me. I don't have like a career plan. Maybe I should, but I don't.

— Viggo Mortensen

I'm not afraid of death, but I resent it. I think it's unfair and irritating.

— Viggo Mortensen

In principle, I think the idea of rewarding a good effort is interesting, but movies are generally different from each other as are performances and the conditions on how the performances are given and how they're edited and so forth.

— Viggo Mortensen