We all live in a televised goldfish bowl.

The function of a briefing paper is to prevent the ambassador from saying something dreadfully indiscreet. I sometimes think its true object is to prevent the ambassador from saying anything at all.

Universities should be safe havens where ruthless examination of realities will not be distorted by the aim to please or inhibited by the risk of displeasure.

Maybe you are the "cool" generation. If coolness means a capacity to stay calm and use your head in the service of ends passionately believed in, then it has my admiration.

There is no lasting hope in violence, only temporary relief from hopelessness.

While the spoken word can travel faster, you can't take it home in your hand. Only the written word can be absorbed wholly at the convenience of the reader.

The presumption of innocence is not just a legal concept. In commonplace terms, it rests on that generosity of spirit which assumes the best, not the worst, of the stranger.

If I take refuge in ambiguity, I assure you that it's quite conscious.

You and I know that there is a correlation between the creative and the screwball. So we must suffer the screwball gladly.

The fullness or emptiness of life will be measured by the extent to which a man feels that he has an impact on the lives of others.

There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation.

Your pride will be uprooted when a person who insults you appears to be your benefactor. The person who insults should be considered a benefactor, instead people get depressed when they are insulted.

I feel like I'm too busy writing history to read it.

Feminism is not a fad. It's not like Angry Birds. Although it does involve a lot of angry birds. Bad example.

In nature things move violently to their place, and calmly in their place.

Documentary filmmaking ruins you for real life, because you learn to be extremely attentive.

See to it that each hour's feelings, and thoughts, and actions are pure and true; then will your life be such.

I'm obsessed with voices in film. I have this memory of how people say words, even on the most intensely stupid reality TV show.

Success has got no taste or smell and when you get used to it, it's as if it didn't exist.

The pace of life feels morally dangerous to me.

If you can't be remarkable, perhaps you should consider doing nothing until you can.