Thylacine, I'm not versed in the quotes Mr. Heston made, that you're mentioning. I do know this much: Mr. Heston could have lived a much easier life had he simply taken life easy! Here he was, a respected Hollywood actor, respected among his peers. He could have easily found himself amongst those who were protected by bodyguards. Mr. Heston instead chose to walk with the downtrodden, those cast down upon by society. He walked with Martin Luthor King, when it wasn't incumbent upon those in the upper reaches of Hollywood to do so.
Mr. Heston could have found his life MADE! He'd earned the respect of his peers, had won an Oscar, for God's sake. He could have easily retired to the simple, easy life he deserved. He didn't. He became the most public NRA president/director of all time. Mr. Heston was a great man, because he dared bigger things than you or I. He forsook the simple life, and took up the hugely public life of being all that you or I might hope to undertake. He was a great man!