When I was a kid, there was kind of a given that there were some really bad, racist police out there. That's just what America was like when I was a kid.

Saying slavery was the cause of secession isn't politically correct; it's correct correct.

You know that sadness and rage you feel about your money? That's the way some of us feel about people.

The Oscar nominations are out, and they're so white a grand jury has decided not to indict them.

I love writing family stories.

When I was a kid, I was very much interested in magic and science. They fueled interest in one another.

Even though you're in charge you're not completely in ownership. You know, the audience takes a huge ownership of your show.

There's a lot of magic in science, so to speak.

I've always felt like I had a guardian angel in some of those ways.

I like to get things going. I get so many different ideas, whether it's film, TV, whatever.

When I was born there were still different drinking fountains you had to drink out of.

Never in my life had I been more frustrated. Go figure it wouldn't be with a human but a freaking alien. At least I now knew that the male species were asses no matter what planet they hailed from.

People just wanna see someone talking about themselves constantly. I'm not interested in that.

It is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.

For why should we not admire more the angels themselves and the blessed choirs of heaven?

The biggest problem that I see that young artists have is they aren't willing to fail. And unless you fail a lot, I think it's difficult to find a voice that shouts above the crowds.

I like living in the 20th century... to me the world has never been more beautiful. I am trying to paint the real world I live in, as beautifully as I can with my own eyes.

The atmosphere of the theater is my oxygen.

I like to sing when I have works to do - it does so help.

Great virtues may draw attention from defects, they cannot sanctify them. A pebble surrounded by diamonds remains a common stone, and a diamond surrounded by pebbles is still a gem.

America is a nation created by all the hopeful wanderers of Europe, not out of geography and genetics, but out of purpose.