Do not lose your enthusiasm. In its Greek etymology, the word enthusiasm means, "God in us."

Jazz is a very accurate, curiously accurate accompaniment to 20th century America.

Louis Armstrong is quite simply the most important person in American music. He is to 20th century music (I did not say jazz) what Einstein is to physics.

I never, ever want to apologize for a film. If it's bad I'll say it's my fault. And that's what I can say so far in all the films that I've done, that if you don't like it, it's entirely my fault.

It follows the seasons, beginning each year with the fond expectancy of springtime and ending with the hard facts of autumn.

One of the things I really like about Ford's films is how there is always a focus on the way characters live, and not just the male heroes.

There are no ordinary lives.