“I prefer people who rock the boat to people who jump out.”

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.

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

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.

Our songs will all be silenced, but what of it? Go on singing.

If there hadn’t been women we’d still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girlfriends.

A writer needs a pen, an artist needs a brush, but a filmmaker needs an army.

Personally, I don’t like a girlfriend to have a husband. If she’ll fool her husband, I figure she’ll fool me.

I’ve never understood the cult of Hitchcock. Particularly the late American movies. Egotism and laziness. And they’re all lit like television shows.

I look back on my life and it’s 95% running around trying to raise money to make movies and 5% actually making them. It’s no way to live.

A bad word from a colleague can darken a whole day. We need encouragement a lot more than we admit, even to ourselves.

A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet.

I have an unfortunate personality.

The most important ingredient of our life is our choices.

I think the American people should express their preferences, and we’ll accept their choice.

You are doomed to make choices. This is life’s greatest paradox.

Inequality is a choice. It is not inevitable.

When you abandon making choices, you enter the vast world of excuses.

When the choice is to be right or to be kind, always make the choice that brings peace.

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.

The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny – it is the light that guides your way.