I'd made these experimental films but I thought the major chore of a filmmaker was to relate to actors.

Perhaps naively I thought people understand what humor was, that it was invented by the human race to cope with the dark areas of life, problems and terrors.

The movie business is very much like that: people in authority making purely emotional decisions instead of interesting rational ones.

My two elder sisters married Englishmen and went abroad.

There are things that Scotsmen get and other people don't get in the dialogue. Scottish characters can be pinpointed by a phrase, targeted very quickly.

It means that if they misunderstood Comfort and Joy, they misunderstood my other films.

I went to the Glasgow Youth Theatre and they just let me in. But I was so shy that I was there for about six weeks without actually introducing myself.

At the moment, my mother is the only one left in Glasgow, although it's certainly my home.

I didn't think Comfort and Joy was going to be a box-office smash.

It's easier for me to get three times the amount of money I really want.

I was quite surprised how easily people wanted to pigeonhole things I've done.

Weaponry is a fear-raising idea.

A goal gives you the lens to see the future with clearer vision.

The first step to accomplishing the impossible is to achieve it in your mind.

The Life of the intellect is the best and pleasantest for man, because the intellect more than anything else is the man. Thus it will be the happiest life as well.

Having knowledge of the Bible is essential to a rich and meaningful life.

I've never been one who enjoys maintaining the status quo. I'm always pushing for new ideas, whether it's in business or philanthropy.

When I was in the penitentiary after being accused of killing a policeman, I was more in the system in the penitentiary than ever.

The very definition of tyranny is when all powers are gathered under one place.

When I was pregnant, I felt filled with life, and I felt really happy. I ate well, and I slept well. I felt much more useful than I'd ever felt before.

Never kick a man when he's up.