Some deeply untrusting actors - the kind that need to know exactly what's what and are completely insecure - might be quite good within the parameters of a certain sort of acting.

When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking wouldn't it be great if you could have a film in which the characters were like real people instead of being like actors.

I try and create for the audience something that relates to real-life experience.

Given the choice of Hollywood or poking steel pins in my eyes, I'd prefer steel pins.

I hope I make films where you walk away . . . with work to do, arguments to have, things to worry about, things to care about. In that sense, I would regard what I do as political.

My work is about life as you and I experience it. You're either lucky or you're not lucky; either your relationship works or it doesn't.

But films should be voyeuristic. What else is a film if you’re not snooping into somebody else’s lives?

There's a constant drip and trickle of life that goes into one's awareness really and consciousness of things.

I discover what my film is by embarking on the journey of making it.

The way an actor is trained doesn't ultimately have much bearing on my work. I'm interested in the actor as artist.

It's an unhealthy habit to say that life is what you make of it, and if you want to be happy, then you can be happy. That's just rubbish, basically.

Government succeeds by failing.

When you're in a weak position, getting the best deal possible is a victory.

As a king can wear a crown, a crown can also weary a king.

Fear is not a good teacher. The lessons of fear are quickly forgotten.

I'm thankful for weird people out there 'cause they're some of the most creative people.

Don't cry to quit. Cry to keep going!

I'm focused on solving the problem that would make it plausible for gov't to get back to solving real problems.

The only antidote to dangerous ideas is strong alternatives vigorously advocated.

"From what I have seen here," remarked Sancho, "justice is so good a thing that even robbers find it necessary."

That which is not present in deep dreamless sleep is not real