“Comedy can be destructive, and still very, very funny. But if I can do something that is fun to watch and critical of the world but not wantonly destructive.”

Being comedic is a skill, because there is a fine line where the context is important. And being dramatic is just being honest and real in that moment.

You get to use everything you learned in movie business. You talk to actors, if you do it right – and I haven’t always done it right – you should be shaping the material all the time.

I’m always an entrepreneur, but I’d probably be a teacher. I like teaching kids, whether that’s tennis on the courts or history in the classroom.

Emotions weren’t created to just lie around. You should experience things to the full. I’ve got a sense of the clock ticking.

When you’re 20 you can put a ton of old-age prosthetics on and be an old guy, but when you’re 70 you can’t play a 20-year-old.

I was at the vice president’s Christmas party. I thought that his speech was spectacular, and I knew that it was a very emotional and difficult thing for him to do, but I admonished him for not waiting just one more stinking day.

When they’re doing a stupid role in a bad production, it’s kind of a dumb thing to do when you’re an adult. When you’re doing a great role that’s well-written, it’s an enviable job.

I’m about to go to Sundance for my 3rd year, and Sundance has never felt like a real independent festival at all. On the other hand, it might to start feel that way.

If you surround me with darkness, suddenly, I am “somewhat fun.”

I think independent movies are actually very challenging right now, because it was this huge scene and it was great for a few years. Then, it was totally co-opted by the studios. Now, it’s become very corporate, the independent scene.

Comedy is tragedy plus timing.

We don’t feel constrained by what we did in the past.

When you envy actors, only envy them for their good roles. Keep in mind they have to do a lot of roles to make a living, and not all of them are good.

In the end, the thing that really stays with you is not that you were clever enough to connect a sketch to another sketch, but what really sticks with you is when you just have an incredible moment happen, or execute a really funny idea.

I pretty much read reviews and comments only looking for the negative. Literally, when I read positive comments, it’s like a zero. I think the issue is if you agree with it or not.

It’s fun to discover things. I wouldn’t want everything laid out, simply and too obviously.

I haven’t left my house in days. I watch the news channels incessantly. All the news stories are about the election; all the commercials are Viagra and Cialis. Election, erection, election, erection! Either way we’re screwed!

This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affectations glow and valor is reborn, when the shadows deepen along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn.

It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.

The judgment may be compared to a clock or watch, where the most ordinary machine is sufficient to tell the hours; but the most elaborate alone can point out the minutes and seconds, and distinguish the smallest differences of time.

I don’t watch trailers, I like to go into every movie fresh.

It is a note Of upstart greatness to observe and watch For these poor trifles, which the noble mind Neglects and scorns.

I never wore a watch. I always depend on public clocks, and stores have clocks, but that is strange.

Notorious’ is a masterwork. I can watch it every day.