Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist *can* come from *anywhere*.

I do not choose to be a common man…it is my right to be uncommon—if I can…I seek opportunity—not security…I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed… to refuse to barter incentive for a dole… I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopias….

If you can't do something willingly and joyfully, then don't do it. If you give up drinking, don't go moaning about it; go back on the bottle. Do. As. Thou. Wilt.

When I work with young people, I grab energy from them by the handsful.

You talk about auteur de cinema having things in their heads and putting them all across, can you imagine Shakespeare writing screenplays?

I have no memories I'm prepared to share with you.

If you cannot say what you mean, your majesty, you will never mean what you say and a gentleman should always mean what he says.