All truly great art is optimistic. The individual artist is happy in his creative work. The fact that practically all great art is tragic does not in any way change the above thesis.

It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.

It is foolish to be convinced without evidence, but it is equally foolish to refuse to be convinced by real evidence.

You don't have to be satisfied with America as you find it. You can change it. I didn't like the way I found America some sixty years ago, and I've been trying to change it ever since.

Fascism is capitalism plus murder.

One of the necessary accompaniments of capitalism in a democracy is political corruption.

I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.

The private control of credit is the modern form of slavery.

I don't know whether anyone will care to examine my heart, but if they do, they will find two words there- 'social justice.' For that is what I have believed in and fought for.

You can't make somebody understand something if their salary depends upon them not understanding it.

The remedy [for the Great Depression] is to give the workers access to the means of production, and let them produce for themselves, not for others, . . . the American way.

You can´t learn leadership from books. You learn it by following.

Just a little drop of kindness can water a whole garden.

Reason lost the battle, and all I could do was surrender and accept I was in love.

Imagination takes humility, love and great courage.

It’s called mind over matter. If we don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” When a bit of me hurts, I always mind.

I love just about every aspect of the filmmaking except acting. I would never be able to do that, but the rest I really enjoy.

Comedy is not funny. Comedy is hard work and timing and lots and lots of rehearsals.

Despair is as hollow and deceptive as hope!

Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you're a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff's worth, without pity, and destroy most of it.

In my opinion, character is the most important determinant of a person's success, achievement and ability to handle adversity.