I like to think about society as being a flock of birds: There seems to be a common consciousness in different time periods, and the new common consciousness reacts to the old standards.

The first Decline I did was out of sheer love and appreciation for the music. In 1977, it was more about bands, because punk was a new form of music. It was groundbreaking and political.

I actually picked up copies of Decline I and II at a flea market once. I walked out without paying.

For the most part, studio movies have huge budgets. They don't do anything under 30 to 40 million. When you have that much money at stake, you have so many people breathing down your neck.

I got IRS records to finance what I wanted to do.

I was always into music. I think everyone is when they're a teenager, as a way to drown out the world.

I really feel kind of guilty spending 80 million dollars. People are starving in the world.

Nobody wanted to touch Decline III when they found out what it was about.

Arnold and Jamie Lee must have worked over the years with directors that did 50 takes, because I'd get like three takes or so and say, Ok, that's it, we're done.

Decline III, I funded myself, from the studio money. That, and I sold a lot of drugs. Kidding. Don't print that.

I live on this nice three acres in Hollywood.

What is it that would make a creature as fierce, majestic and powerful as a lion is, subject itself to the intimidation of a man a whip and a chair? The lion has been taught to forget what it is.

If you have a fault it is you do not forgive easy!

Accept changes, with love, to fill life with happiness.

I'm not great at dating, but I need to do it to relax.

I only wish Chet Atkins could be here for this joyous occasion.

Advances in science help to delegitimize the rule of kings and the power of the Church.

Usually the threat of death makes people a lot more aware of their lives.

Design isn't just how it looks. It's how it works.

If it moves, privatize it, if it doesn't move, privatize it; since everything either moves or doesn't move, privatize everything.

The human mind likes a strange idea as little as the body likes a strange protein and resists it with a similar energy.