Somebody said that I'm a bit like a sponge, grabbing things here and there, soaking stuff up. [As a director] you have to be, really.

I think you get better at staring into space. Especially living in the South of France.

Their every instinct - and I have to say this is without exception - is to iron out the bumps, and It's always the bumps that are the most interesting stuff.

I wanted to make a movie about the arbitrary nature of love.

Always, with any movie that I do, I have a book of ideas that I've heard, or seen, or whatever, and I always try to incorporate it in the film.

The danger is that if you have a bunch of ideas that you forget to use.

The challenge, really, on any new film is to try to avoid that and achieve a few moments that aren't cliche.

Well, I think just the fact that you are making your first film is a huge step.

Well, Brief Encounter is certainly one of my top five favorites of all time. I looked at Brief Encounter very closely, to be honest.

It's the sort of subject that always interests me: jealousy and the language of suspicion and guilt. I think it interests people.

I've always been interested in films where you can identify with the actors. Where you can be in their shoes and therefore be more involved if they're people that you recognize.

Where are the Muslim people's sponsors? Where are its kings? Where are its leaders? The Muslim people is calling upon you, Jerusalem is appealing to you, will anyone answer?

All truth is very ordinary.

he who will not economize will agonize

Your little child is the only true democrat.

If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going.

Emmet Fox was one of the world's greatest metaphysical teachers. His works have contributed profoundly to the spiritual understanding of millions of people, including myself.

I like to think of myself as the middleman between Fred Allen and Henny Youngman.

Turning someone away who wants to come near you, just because of your pride is also a form of mistake.

I personally do not listen to a lot of music. It helps keep my mind free. I don't want to sound like someone else from the get-go. I want to express myself and the world in my head.

I'm not interested so much in collaboration. You see that from the history of my albums.