The ultimate goal of human life is to transcend culture and personality to the unconditioned pure being. But the means to do this is through our culture and way of life.

[On doors of opportunity] If that door doesnt open, Dont worry. It was probably best you got locked out than be locked in. Move on the next door.

You only live once, but can be born twice. Then, you can live forever.

Beauty is only there when you have the ability to see and appreciate it.

Saying that it's all in your mind is a figure of speech. Don't let your mind play with your mental well being

When I retired from active duty, I still felt that I owed something to my community. That's why I pursued education... I still miss the classroom and recall those days fondly.

I woke at intervals until . . . the intervals of waking tipped the scales, and I was more often awake than not.

I have been apt to think that there has never been, nor ever will be, any such thing as a good war, or a bad peace.

We don't need to respond with desperate violence.

Shredded feelings are the fuel that feed the machinery of melodrama. And good melodrama just has honest feelings and is honest about the way people interact.

I'm just trying to tell a good story and make thought-provoking, entertaining films. I just try and draw upon the great culture we have as a people, from music, novels, the streets.