“You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are scared of.”

For those actors and directors who produce films which are always about the old kingdom or about heroes.

For me, it is OK as long as I can breathe, as long as my heart is pumping, as long as I can express myself.

In the end, I think, the state’s rigidity is a function of its own insecurity, its indecisiveness.

When human beings are scared and feel everything is exposed to the government, we will censor ourselves from free thinking. That’s dangerous for human development.

After I came back [to China], there was still a long period of time when I felt I had nothing to do.

In a society like this there is no negotiation, no discussion, except to tell you that power can crush you any time they want — not only you, your whole family and all people like you.

They lack any ability to sense what is beautiful or what is proper. They can be learned and skillful, but they lack the ability to make their own free judgment. It is really sad to see young adults of 20, 25 years who were never taught to make their own decisions.

Overturning police cars is a super-intense workout. It’s probably the only sport I enjoy.

I think by not letting young people be fully informed, how can they have energy and passion and the right picture of the world? I think that’s the true crime.

[Cultural departments] don’t care about culture. Maybe they’re the furthest from the people who understand culture.

Everything is selected by the central government without good judgment or an understanding of culture to make it really safe. They will become nobody to maintain their power and be raised to the next higher level.

This week, the world gathers in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games. This is the extraordinary moment China has been dreaming of for 100 years.

I think my stance and my way of life is my most important art.

Whenever there is injustice, there is tension. But in China it is very hard to release your anger unless you burn yourself or you jump from a bridge. In a society where there is no freedom of the press, it is difficult for victims to be noticed.

We’re different, and you’re dangerous.” That kind of thinking stops human, civilized evolution. It’s dangerous to create that kind of tension.

If there’s the right condition, I always want to express the concept or ideas in a very independent way.

I know I’m more on television, and I’m more recognisable than maybe even the players because they run and train, but I just stand there, and my face does all these funny things that everyone can see all the time.

The thing about death is it’s so final, isn’t it, really? As far as we know… Nobody has ever come back and told us about it.

When you’ve seen a nude infant doing a backward somersault you know why clothing exists.

Somebody said to me this morning, ‘To what do you attribute your longevity?’ I don’t know. I mean, I couldn’t have planned my life out better.

You know, the Oscar I was awarded for The Untouchables is a wonderful thing, but I can honestly say that I’d rather have won the U.S. Open Golf Tournament.

A man with a financial background may know nothing about manufacturing shoes or cars, but he’s put in charge anyway.

Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.

When a batter swings and I see his knees move, I can tell just what his weaknesses are then I just put the ball where I know he can’t hit it.