I prefer the old masters, by which I mean John Ford, John Ford, and John Ford.

I worry a lot about taking care of my dependents, all those perfectly ordinary middle-class preoccupations.

The best thing commercially, which is the worst artistically, by and large, is the most successful.

They teach anything in universities today. You can major in mud pies.

I passionately hate the idea of being with it; I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time.

As a producer, sitting on the other side of the desk, I have never once had an agent go out on a limb for his client and fight for him. I've never heard one say, 'No, just a minute! This is the actor you should use.' They will always say, 'You don't like him? I've got somebody else.' They're totally spineless.

I don't pray because I don't want to bore God.