The product of the artist has become less important than the fact of the artist. We wish to absorb this person. We wish to devour someone who has experienced the tragic. In our society this person is much more important than anything he might create.

I hate vacations. There's nothing to do.

Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.

I always thought the real violence in Hollywood isn't what's on the screen. It's what you have to do to raise the money.

It's only words... unless they're true.

In a world we find terrifying, we ratify that which doesn't threaten us.

We respond to a drama to that extent to which it corresponds to our dreamlife.

Policemen so cherish their status as keepers of the peace and protectors of the public that they have occasionally been known to beat to death those citizens or groups who question that status.

A good film script should be able to do completely without dialogue.