I find I have to give myself a day when I just shut myself off and do nothing but read.

You know very well that unless you're a scientist, it's much more important for a theory to be shapely, than for it to be true.

If I had to give a definition of capitalism I would say: the process whereby American girls turn into American women.

It's possible to disagree with someone about the ethics of non-violence without wanting to kick his face in.

Since my adaptation of Ian McEwan's 'Atonement,' I get sent a lot of novels that people think will work as movies. So every now and then I make a point of sitting down and reading a couple of them.

If you take a really good book, then the potential is for a really good film. But you've got to get it right.

There was a moment in the early '80s when I wanted to work on films and wanted to live in L.A.