My idea of perfect happiness is a healthy family, peace between nations, and all the critics die.

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.

Love yourself. That kind of love can get you through anything.

We're enveloped in pitch black. "Wait here, " I whisper."Are you getting your ax?""Handcuffs.""Kinky. But, okay, I'll try it.

You have to block everything out and be extremely focused and be relaxed and mellow too.

I love the ACLU and I'm concerned now, especially when it comes to our rights, with current politics and the religious community and the Conservative majority or minority - I don't know who they are.

The truth is that the sole reason we don’t see the world all around us as magic is that we are jaded, too cool for the school of wonder.

While love is one of God's attributes, it's not his only attribute. God is also holy and just.

I no longer count as one of my merits that I always tell the truth as much as possible; it has become my metier.

Love always ends differently and it always begins differently - especially with me.

People find it hard to understand how I can risk ruining my career as a musician by injuring myself on the slopes, but I've always been a tomboy.