It's hard for a Jew of my generation, an American Jew, who is philo-Zionistic, not to romanticize Israel.

Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.

The Oscars demonstrate the will of the people to control and judge those they have elected to stand above them (much, perhaps, as in bygone days, an election celebrated the same).

Every scene should be able to answer three questions: "Who wants what from whom? What happens if they don't get it? Why now?"

When the three branches of government have failed to represent the citizenry and the mass of the media has failed to represent the citizenry, then the citizenry better represent the citizenry.

Forget narrative, backstory, characterisation, exposition, all of that. Just make the audience want to know what happens next.

It is the writer’s job to make the play interesting. It is the actor’s job to make the performance truthful.

Opportunity may knock, but it seldom nags.

We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.

People may or may not say what they mean... but they always say something designed to get what they want.

Being a writer in Hollywood is like going to Hitler's Eagle Nest with a great idea for a bar mitzvah.

So, " Annabeth said, "are you going to argue about me coming along?""Nah. You'd just beat me up." Percy said.She managed a laugh, which was good to hear

There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within.

When I want to be incognito, I don't wear any hat. Unfortunately, even without the hat, they now recognise me in Paris.

There's a confidence you find when you finally feel right in your body.

fiction and lies are both works of creative art, and creation always reveals the creator.

There's only one way to make a beginning, and that is to begin; and begin with hard work, and patience, prepared for all the disappoint­ment s.

Why should anybody who doesn't like Donald Trump think, oh, well, I should think he is legitimate now?

I guess there were fewer differences between me and social psychologists than between me and other people in general

Give people plenty of opportunity to enjoy themselves by emphasizing ways that let people participate in the experience.

Addiction is perhaps a sickness of the spirit.