“I have one son. Of everything I’ve done in my life, nothing matches the feeling of having life growing inside you.”

When they tried me out as a host on TV, I found that I just couldn’t be that gregarious person. I was stranger than that.

I’ve always liked working really hard and then doing nothing in particular. So, consequently, I didn’t overexpose myself; I guess I maintained a kind of mystery. I wasn’t ambitious.

I still like my antique clothes.

I love things that are indescribable, like the taste of an avocado or the smell of a gardenia.

If I hear a record once, I usually never listen to it again. I rarely listen to music – unless it’s Billie Holiday.

Oh God, don’t envy me, I have my own pains.

Being a celebrity is a no-win situation. If you get along with your co-star you’re having an affair, if you don’t you’re having a feud.

I just don’t like the idea of her singing my songs. Who the hell does she thinks she is? The world doesn’t need another Streisand! (on Diana Ross)

I can take any truth; just don’t lie to me.

Men are allowed to have passion and commitment for their work… a woman is allowed that feeling for a man, but not her work.

Why is it men are permitted to be obsessed about their work, but women are only permitted to be obsessed about men?

Art does not exist only to entertain, but also to challenge one to think, to provoke, even to disturb, in a constant search for truth.

I wish I could be like Shaw who once read a bad review of one of his plays, called the critic and said: ‘I have your review in front of me and soon it will be behind me.’

Life’s too short. Start with Dessert!

I don’t like the word ‘superstar’. It has ridiculous implications. These words – star, stupor, superstar, stupid star – they’re misleading. It’s a myth.

There is nothing more important in life than love.

I never had secure, belonging feelings with this society [in China].

He that is gone so far as to cut the claws of the lion, will not feel himself quite secure, until he has also drawn his teeth.

I guess my feeling is that if you’re going to make a joke, that’s fine, but you should also sort of stand behind it, you know? A joke should be more than a joke, it should be a point that you’re trying to make.

I’m still very grateful to digital cameras in general, but I didn’t have this feeling with the RED one.

Feelings don’t have to make sense to be valid.

Feelings don’t have to make sense to be valid.

We apply law to facts. We don’t apply feelings to facts.

I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent.