If you're really a good writer and deserve that honored position, then by God, you'll write, and you'll be read, and you'll be produced somehow. It just works that way. If you're just a simple ordinary day-to-day craftsman, no different than most, then the likelihood is that you probably won't make it in writing.

We're developing a new citizenry. One that will be very selective about cereals and automobiles, but won't be able to think.

If it sounds good as you say it, likely as not it'll sound good when an actor's saying it.

Whenever you write, whatever you write, never make the mistake of assuming the audience is any less intelligent than you are.

I'm an affluent screenwriter and all that - I'm a known screenwriter, but I'm not in the fraternity of the very, very major people. I would say a guy like Ernie Lehman, William Goldman, and a few others are quite a cut above.

If you write beautifully, you write beautifully, that's all.

I write much better in the nonconfines of the early morning than I do the clutter of the day.