Quote of the day by Jack Nicholson : “I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me.” The line appears in Martin Scorsese’s 2006 crime film The Departed. It is spoken by Frank Costello, the character played by Nicholson, during the film’s opening narration. The quote is often shared as a Jack Nicholson quote. However, it is important to separate the actor from the character. Nicholson delivers the words as Frank Costello. The statement reflects Costello’s approach to power, ambition and control in the story.
The line can also be understood outside the film. It raises questions about how much control people have over their lives and how much their surroundings shape their choices.
