When you know in your heart why you did something, and you feel and you know that in spite of all the controversy that it was right, doesn't matter.

I finally got it: empower girls and everything changes.

I remember saying goodbye to my father the night he left to join the Navy. He didn't have to. He was older than other servicemen and had a family to support but he wanted to be a part of the fight against fascism, not just make movies about it. I admired this about him.

I'll smoke pot every now and then. I cannot see a movie on pot. The number of movies I've seen thinking, This is probably the best I have ever seen, and then I'll see it again sober and think, What was I thinking?

Studios weren't banging on my door to offer me parts... And I thought, well how am I ever going to make movies that speak to my heart and to my values?

The capacity of young people to persevere, even under the most adverse conditions, never ceases to amaze me.

Everyone should know that feeling of overcoming fear and mastering something. People who aren't taught that become soggy.