I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I speak to everybody - I try to speak to every kind of minority and majority that cannot escape the steamroller known as Christmas.

[My catholic education] sticked with me. It caused the rage I had to make 'Pink Flamingos.'

And my little sister Chrissy, for teaching me that life is nothing if you're not obsessed.

I always give books. And I always ask for books. I think you should reward people sexually for getting you books. Don't send a thank-you note, repay them with sexual activity. If the book is rare or by your favorite author or one you didn't know about, reward them with the most perverted sex act you can think of. Otherwise, you can just make out.

I never thought I'd be 52 years old. I don't think that anybody at 16 thinks like that.

Contemporary art hates you.

Hairspray is the only movie I made that's subversive, because they're doing it in every high school in America. A man's playing a woman, and two men sing a love song to each other.