Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is eight times as good as any other method the human race has ever tried.

If a grasshopper tries to fight a lawnmower, one may admire his courage but not his judgement.

Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

You can sway a thousand men by appealing to their prejudices quicker than you can convince one man by logic.

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

I never learned from a man who agreed with me.

A generation which ignores history has no past — and no future.

Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events.

May you live as long as you wish and love as long as you live.

It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.

In the documentary the basic material has been created by God, whereas in the fiction film the director is a God; he must create life.

When I make a work, I often take it to the very edge of its collapse, and that's a very beautiful balance.

Treat your past as a book that you learn from instead of a hammer that you beat yourself up about.

Actors who say they can dive inside a character are either schizophrenic or lying.

Christianity gave Eros poison to drink; he did not die of it, certainly, but degenerated to Vice.

I'm really specific in the way that I shoot. I've always had a very good sense of what I need in the editing room.

Character calls forth character.

Don't idolize me, idolize yourself.

Ah, but art and trouble go hand in hand. If you cannot be troubled to create art from your heart, then your art will never trouble the heart of others.

It is in the contemplation of what you desire that you create what it is you want for yourself