I don't really know what I want, other than good sequences, whatever that means. What I find is always a matter of chance, judgment, and luck.

My goal is to make as many films as possible about different aspects of American life.

I don't like to read novels where the novelist tells me what to think about the situation and the characters. I prefer to discover for myself.

I'm very careful of not being critical of other people's movies, which work in different styles. I think some of my movies can be interpreted as critical of their subjects.

I'm in no way suggesting that I succeed, but it's inspiring to read somebody who does succeed and from whom, in a general way, you can draw examples and nourishment and sustenance.

I'm too busy to be nostalgic, which is one of the reasons to keep busy. I'm not a very sentimental person.

Documentary filmmaking ruins you for real life, because you learn to be extremely attentive.

Anybody whose mind is functioning at all can't be content with the way the world works.

In moviemaking, you learn to pay attention to detail, because so much is in the detail. And when you're shooting, you try to be very alert to what's going on, even if you're tired.

I do not think that my films or films by any other filmmaker represent "THE TRUTH." I do not feel the need to categorize my films or anyone else's.

It is always a problem to know what an image means.

There’re two ways to fail in life: Choosing not to try or quitting too soon. You were dumb enough to show up so you’re left with one.

When we do not succeed to be ourselves, we finally realize that is was completely useless to exist...

If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.

You're going to find this hard to believe, but cops aren't required to carry emergency condoms." Joe Morelli

Sometimes when I'm really enjoying a book, I'll read a sentence or paragraph and just think - how can someone's head be wired in such a way that they'd come up with that?

It is opposition that makes us productive.

Why fear death? Be scared of living.

I choose things by how they resonate in my heart.

The difference between a top-flight creative man and the hack is his ability to express powerful meanings indirectly.

The Ideal is the invisible Sun which is always on the meridian of the soul.