The phenomenal thing that happened to me is that I was able to create two memorable men: one is the ultimate optimist, Rocky, and then you have Rambo, the ultimate pessimist. You're going to always be remembered for them, no matter what you do.

I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat.

Success is usually the culmination of controlling failure.

Lighting can bring out certain contours in the body, in the face, in the eyes, that otherwise flat lighting couldn't.

To me, the most perfect screenplay ever written will be one word, when you finally reduce it down to that. Until then, writing will be an imperfect form of communication.

I try to eliminate as much dialogue as possible, and I guess Rambo is my really best experiment with how to eliminate dialogue.

When you're pushed killing is as easy as breathing.