Fame is protection if you go to a scary place. Fame is fun. A lot of people don't say anything and you don't know they know who you are.

It wasn't until I started reading and found books they wouldn't let us read in school that I discovered you could be insane and happy and have a good life without being like everybody else.

Don’t sleep with people who don’t read.

My idea of an interesting person is someone who is quite proud of their seemingly abnormal life and turns their disadvantage into a career.

True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.

Without obsession, life is nothing.

[My catholic education] sticked with me. It caused the rage I had to make 'Pink Flamingos.'

Being rich is not about how much money you have or how many homes you own; it's the freedom to buy any book you want without looking at the price and wondering if you can afford it.

Do we secretly idolize our imagined opposites, yearning to become the role models for others we know we could never be for ourselves?

I like hard movies; I like ones that are basically the opposite of a date movie.

The "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" hitchhiker really made people never want to hitchhike again - the hitcher, the show. Hitchhiking is always vaguely sexual.

Neither your work to be with insensible, nor their work to be with you.

The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.

Never trust to general impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details.

I was just restless with being in school; so I went out to Los Angeles.

We are taking additional measures to ensure security and stability in Tal Afar and to restore its people's rights

I prefer to think of film making - you know, um, the sweat is supposed to be invisible. But a lot of sweat can go into making a film. But of course, if you enjoy doing it, you enjoy doing it.

Everywhere I go, somebody is staring at me. I don't know if people are staring because they recognize me or because they think I'm a weirdo.

Even a little of dharma saves one from many a pitfall.

The idea is to have no idea. Get lost. Get lost in the landscape.

Government is like an onion. To understand it, you have to peel through many different layers. Most outsiders never get beyond the first or second layer.