For better or worse, most of my writing life has been about people that work behind the scenes. I'm interested in finding extraordinary moments in otherwise normal people.

I actually think every war movie is an antiwar movie in its own way - with the exception of some of the propaganda movies.

So to be standing here, this was really, truly, honestly never part of anything we even imagined in our wildest dreams.

The fact is that war films, by their very nature, are pitched at a high dramatic range.

I write on a computer, on a laptop or whatever.

Ever since 9/11, I found myself interested in chronicling the war and the war on terror and the way that this giant machinery was affecting individuals.

You're trying to dramatize events to tell a story most effectively. That doesn't mean the events aren't true, it just means you're making them as dramatic as you possibly can.

I think as a filmmaker you try not to have any expectations other than that the film have a fairly substantial beginning, middle and end.

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.", February 25, 1933]

Every exceptional bias against Christianity I find to be evidence for its validity.

Faith can keep you alive in any storm.

I believe in integrity. Dogs have it. Humans are sometimes lacking it.

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.

Put aside ambition for public recognition, and simply do what you do because it feels good inside.

Evil is only imperfection, that which is not complete, which is becoming, but has not yet found its end.

It's the same thing, I think, whether it's breathing or meditation or yoga. And running is a great way of doing it.

If you come from art, you'll always be art.

You should never bet against anything in science at odds of more than about 10-12 to 1.