When I was 13, Eddie Murphy was to me what Chris Tucker was to 13-year-olds when I made 'Rush Hour.' And 'Rush Hour' really came out of the fact that I grew up watching 'Beverly Hills Cop' and '48 Hrs.'

Rehearsal? What’s that? Rehearsal’s for fags. Rehearsal. Not much.

I'm trying to be a little bit more mature about my choices and think about what I want to direct next, instead of just jumping into a movie 'cause I want to do it.

You've got to think about how to do things for the right price. You have to shoot in different places to be creative and get tax rebates.

Having love in your heart doesn't count for much if what comes out of your mouth is ugly and bigoted.

I've been a book collector since I was young, since I was a kid.

I ask my assistants if they're retarded all the time. When the camera is on you, of course, actors have the ability to make it real. For me, if I'm not talking, it is a problem. I have so much more respect for actors after being in front of the camera, and I realize that the hardest part is when you're not talking. Listening is harder than just acting. Listening is the hardest part.