It's really a spiritual practice that I am trying to show as a way of life.

Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic expression of an unmet need.

Your presence is the most precious gift you can give to another human being.

All violence is the result of people tricking themselves into believing that their pain derives from other people and that consequently those people deserve to be punished.

We are never angry because of what others say or do. It is our thinking that makes us angry.

Instead of playing the game "Making Life Wonderful", we often play the game called "Who's Right". Do you know that game? It's a game where everybody loses.

Empathy is a respectful understanding of what others are experiencing.

People have been trained to criticize, insult, and otherwise communicate in ways that create distance among people.

You don't have to be brilliant. It's enough to become progressively less stupid.

Most of us grew up speaking a language that encourages us to label, compare, demand, and pronounce judgments rather than to be aware of what we are feeling and needing.

The most dangerous of all behaviors may consist of doing things 'because we're supposed to.

Modern day information overload stops us sufficiently engaging with our thoughts.

...if you've got writer's block, you aren't empty - maybe it's just like Twitter - overwhelmed, and loading seems to be taking a while...

All things come round to him who will but wait.

Of course their [Cuba's] economy is terrible, but they have Health Care and education.

Whites have traded their culture for power.

Themes recur again and again in my work.

It's the imperfections that make things beautiful.

I also believe on a practical level, if you're taking time away from people, besides entertaining them, I think it's important that there's something to react to.

Which is why I felt I was truly blessed this year, with leads in two nice films, and also the luxury of being able to do a studio film and an independent afterwards was fantastic.

Cynics and critics wake us up. Kindness often covers up the truth and allows us to sleep on in our ignorance.