“Don’t give them what you think they want. Give them what they never thought was possible.”

Hollywood is a gold-plated suburb suitable for golfers, gardeners, assorted middlemen, and contented movies stars. I am none of these things.

The classy gangster is a Hollywood invention.

I started at the top and worked my way down.

When people accept breaking the law as normal, something happens to the whole society.

People are losing the capacity to listen to words or follow ideas.

What’s happening now is what happened before, and often what’s going to happen again sometime or other.

I love informality. I hate dressing up. I hate to be conventional – and I hate every kind of snob.

Now I’m an old Christmas tree, the roots of which have died. They just come along and while the little needles fall off me replace them with medallions.

There are three intolerable things in life – cold coffee, lukewarm champagne, and overexcited women.

A man is not from where he is born, but where he chooses to die.

I have a great love and respect for religion, great love and respect for atheism. What I hate is agnosticism, people who do not choose.

I passionately hate the idea of being with it; I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time.

I don’t pray really, because I don’t want to bore God.

The director is simply the audience. His job is to preside over accidents.

In my opinion, there are two things that can absolutely not be carried to the screen: the realistic presentation of the sexual act and praying to God.

Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.

Victory is very, very sweet. It tastes better than any dessert you’ve ever had.

When I was in my 20s I wasn’t sure of myself. Now I can really stretch. I don’t have to stay in the box. At this point I can say to myself, So what if I fall, so what? I’m going to get back up.

A lost road will remember your footsteps because someday you may want to return, tracing the way.

You will move in the direction you are facing.

Becoming an inspiration for kids is great. I want to inspire them to do whatever they want to.

A truly equal world would be one where women ran half our countries and companies and men ran half our homes.

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.

Do or do not. There is no try.