There are two things I will never do in my life. I will never climb Mount Everest, and I will never work with Val Kilmer again. There isn't enough money in the world.

Casting is 65 percent of directing.

The accolades usually come when you're dead or too old to get a job

I have gotten to a point in my life where I don't want to have dinner with someone I don't like.

And in Hollywood, you know, everyone is an expert. Most of them are expert editors. They can't direct, they can't write, they can't act, but, by God, they all think they can edit.

I've found that the more experts you have on a movie, the less control the director has.

The importance of the assistant director cannot be overemphasized.

I look at actors very closely. It's not an accident when the actors excel.

First, speaking for myself, I don't want to ever be in a position where I'm telling other directors how to make movies, because I don't think it's any of my business.

The first assistant director is just so important that the choice of that person is critical to the movie.

I feel that my job is to create an atmosphere where creative people can do their best work.

No Carthaginian denied Moloch, because to do so would have required more courage that was required to face death in battle.

Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some arbitrary, fixed schedule

The substance, the essence, the Spirit is freedom.

I am one of those people who thrive on deadlines. Nothing brings on inspiration more readily than desperation.

I know I haven't much sense or sobriety, but I've got what is ever so much better — the knack of making people like me.

If it is naturally in you to be a good orator, a notable orator you will be when you have acquired knowledge and practice.

Here lies my past, Goodbye I have kissed it; Thank you kids, I wouldn't have missed it.

Average people seldom talked about anything interesting and often hurt each other savagely.

Like most of us, I'm used to juggling about 52 roles in life. Wife. Mother. Sister. Friend. Author. Sometimes I feel a bit 'multiple-personality'.

Grace is the absence of everything that indicates pain or difficulty, hesitation or incongruity.