You don't know what life is. You know nothing.

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.

Sometimes being happy takes effort. Invest time and energy in yourself and your happiness.

It's none of their business that you have to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way.

Speak gently to young women as you would to your sisters

At such a time it seems natural and good to me to ask myself these questions. What do I believe in? What must I fight for and what must I fight against?

The getting lost and recovering - that is the meditation.

You can never step in the same river twice.

We ought to thank President Bush. He made it a lot easier for people to do taxes this year. No job, no income tax this year.

You know how gossip is. It's the toxic waste of small town

There is nothing better for me than to bring the bells in, in Scotland.

WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.