(on being born on Christmas Day, 1924) I was a Christmas present that was delivered unwrapped.

There are a lot I'm proud of, and a lot I wish the hell I'd never written.

I don't think playing it safe constitutes a retreat, necessarily. In other words, I don't think if, by playing safe he means we are not going to delve into controversy, then if that's what he means he's quite right. I'm not going to delve into controversy. Somebody asked me the other day if this means that I'm going to be a meek conformist, and my answer is no. I'm just acting the role of a tired non-conformist.

Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man, that state is obsolete.

Every writer is a frustrated actor who recites his lines in the hidden auditorium of his skull.

Do I want to start my own production company? No, I doubt it. I'm too old for that. I don't want to start anything.

Apparently on the screen I look tall, ageless, and damned close to omniscient-delivering jeopardy-laden warnings through gritted teeth. But when people see me on the street, they say 'by God, this kid is 5 foot 5, he's got a broken nose, and looks about as foreboding as a bank teller on a lunch break.'