"To work all the time is to be incredibly lucky."

"Beware of anyone who says they know. Trust me, they don't, or they wouldn't have to say they did."

"If you deny yourself commitment, what can you do with your life?"

"When I write stuff and I help cast it, I turn away good people all the time. I may turn them down because this one's too tall and that one doesn't have a high enough voice or this one looks to old to match up with that one - there's a billion reasons not to hire somebody."

"The moral compass points true only when freed from the magnetism of personal gain — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"To me the interesting main character is never the one without flaws."

"Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."

"I had a huge advantage when I started 50 years ago - my job was secure. I didn't have to promote myself. These days there's far more pressure to make a mark, so the temptation is to make adventure television or personality shows. I hope the more didactic approach won't be lost."