To find beauty in the sad, hope in the midst of loss, and dignity in failure is great poetic art.

Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.

The Oscars demonstrate the will of the people to control and judge those they have elected to stand above them (much, perhaps, as in bygone days, an election celebrated the same).

Every scene should be able to answer three questions: "Who wants what from whom? What happens if they don't get it? Why now?"

When the three branches of government have failed to represent the citizenry and the mass of the media has failed to represent the citizenry, then the citizenry better represent the citizenry.

Forget narrative, backstory, characterisation, exposition, all of that. Just make the audience want to know what happens next.

It is the writer’s job to make the play interesting. It is the actor’s job to make the performance truthful.

Opportunity may knock, but it seldom nags.

We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.

People may or may not say what they mean... but they always say something designed to get what they want.

Being a writer in Hollywood is like going to Hitler's Eagle Nest with a great idea for a bar mitzvah.

The word mortgage originates in French. it literally means 'death grip'.

Whoever created the world went to a lot of trouble. It would be downright rude not to go out and see as much of it as possible.

Never permit anyone to interfere with your bond with happiness.

I think often sadness is a great place to get songs from.

The history of economic progress consists of charging a fee for what once was free.

The overall physical demand that Iraq has is pretty amazing. It's 130 degrees, and the soldiers are carrying about 100 pounds of extra gear. It's a pretty rigorous schedule and routine for them.

Don't settle in the land of barely enough. That is where you are, it is not who you are. That's your location, it's not your identity. No matter what it looks like, have an abundant mentality.

The best prayer I ever prayed had enough sin to damn the whole world.

Unions don't create jobs. People create jobs.

Everyone's values are defined by what they will tolerate when it is done to others.