When I'm writing something, if there's a part that's good for me, then I'll play it. Otherwise, I don't. And I notice that there are less and less parts for me in my own writing.

Human beings are divided into mind and body. The mind embraces all the nobler aspirations, like poetry and philosophy, but the body has all the fun.

You can't ride two horses with one behind.

I never start editing a film until it's completely shot; I don't edit along the way, ever. When it's finished I come in here [screening room] and we start with reel one, scene one and start editing shot by shot by shot until we're finished.

My grandfather was a very insignificant man, actually. At his funeral his hearse followed the other cars.

It's all through the actors; I cannot write in that idiom

The lion and the calf shall lie down together but the calf won't get much sleep.