Smart people sometimes get stupid, but stupid people never get smart. Never. Ever. 'You can come down the evolutionary ladder,' Chon has observed to Ben and O; 'you can't climb up.

Smart people sometimes get stupid, but stupid people never get smart.

If you let people believe that you are weak, sooner or later you’re going to have to kill them.

And the most dangerous place on earth - Is where you’re safe.

I never think about a movie when I'm writing a book, because I think only two things could happen and both of them are bad. You write a lousy novel and a lousy film.

I start work at 5 in the morning and I have a wicked insomnia problem.

I would prefer things to be peaceful and not have conflict.

I don't recognize myself. I don't know who I am anymore." And it's all fun and games until someone loses an I.

Ridley Scott obviously an iconic director, he's made some fantastic films. Obviously a very smart, very tasteful, thoughtful guy. So yeah, I'm in good shape; got Ridley Scott with The Cartel.

I have to remind the people who put down East Coast surfing that Kelly Slater is from Florida.

Alcoholism, tobacco, drunk driving, these things will always be with us. There's always going to be a certain percentage of any population that is addicted to certain substances.

Your memories are you. There is, it seems, no other You.

A concern with the perfectibility of mankind is always a symptom of thwarted or perverted development.

The helicopter is a fine way to travel, but it induces a view of the world that only God and CEOs share on a regular basis.

America is America. It's a capitalist system. They [leaders] have enshrined that belief that profit matters more than anything else. The polarization of the society is just the resurfacing of that.

Dreaming is the most powerful thing because no one can take it from you.

In the vast game of Darwinian musical chairs, whenever the music stopped there were large numbers of people without a seat—and some smartass had sold them guns.

How is the anxious soul of man befool'd in his desire, That thinks an hectic fever may be cool'd in flames of fire?

When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying is, 'you like stuff.' Which is not a good insult at all, like, 'you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human conscience.

Pablo Escobar is one of the great stories of all time. It's a bizarre, dark version of success.

Say stop, whenever you want to stop. Understand?" I nodded. "Do you want to stop now?" My head moved back and forth to the pillow. "Thank God.