I had taught myself that a human being might as well look for diamond tiaras in the gutter as for rewards and punishments that were fair.

Be fruitful, and multiply.

All the great story lines are great practical jokes that people fall for over and over again.

What memories for mud to have.

I have told my sons that they are not under any circumstances to take part in massacres, and that the news of massacres of enemies is not to fill them with satisfaction or glee. I have also told them not to work for companies which make massacre machinery, and to express contempt for people who think we need machinery like that.

Humor is a way of holding off how awful life can be, to protect yourself.

The worst thing about film, from my point of view, is that it cripples illusions which I have encouraged people to create in their heads. Film doesn't create illusion. It makes them impossible. It is a bullying form of reality, like the model rooms in the furniture department of Bloomingdale's.