A couple of compromises in a row and suddenly you're very far way from the person you thought you were.

A whole film is just about arriving at a moment where you hopefully transfer some feeling to the audience.

I believe in what science fiction can do, which is it can set up simple rules that it has to follow to try to illuminate something about the present that is somewhat invisible to us.

One of my favorite stories growing up was 'A Wrinkle in Time'. I loved that book.

When I'm sitting writing, I know that something works if I've made myself cry, or laugh, or have a visceral emotion.

Human beings are flawed and complicated and messy.

I'm still a bit of a romantic and an idealist and hopelessly naive.

Writing so that I can act became a way of having not more control over my future but not having to wait for permission. You can choose yourself. Hmm, who should play this part? I nominate me!

Life and death and birth is this fantastic mystery that we cannot fully grasp.

I think what's so attractive about acting is that you get to live several lifetimes in one.

People go to the cinema to be moved; they wanna laugh, they wanna cry, they wanna feel something deeply, especially if they're not feeling deeply in their own lives.

Beds ain't for sleeping, and clothes ain't for bed.

I think the attraction of 'American Idol' is about the basic human nature attitude that is, 'We can put you up there. But we can take you down.'

I always like a woman in power in politics. I think they're pretty inspirational in terms of looks to begin with. It's very calculated.

I feel like I've matured more musically than I have personally. But I totally embrace what becoming older has to offer. I find the wisdom that comes with each passing year is a trip.

The ball is round, the game is long.

There exist a lot of questions that the fools can ask, and the intelligent cannot answer.

I love the mentality that when push comes to shove, simply work harder and the results will come.

There is no realism in American films. No realism, but something much better, great truth.

But through world wars and a Great Depression, through painful social upheaval and a Cold War, and now through the attacks of September 11, 2001, our Nation has indeed survived.

To get audiences to go see a film is a completely separate issue.