It's got to do with putting yourself in other people's shoes and seeing how far you can come to truly understand them. I like the empathy that comes from acting.

I tend to think you're fearless when you recognize why you should be scared of things, but do them anyway.

Whatever you do, do it completely. Don't do it half-arsed. Do it more than anybody else would.

The art of survival is a story that never ends.

It's about pursuing it rather than waiting to see what comes along.

It's the actors who are prepared to make fools of themselves who are usually the ones who come to mean something to the audience.

I think trying too hard to be sexy is the worst thing in the world a woman can do.

I find something fascinating about the quiet man in the background who has no desire to be the center of attention.

But I learned that there's a certain character that can be built from embarrassing yourself endlessly. If you can sit happy with embarrassment, there's not much else that can really get to ya.

Art is something to be proud of. Art is no compromise. As an actor, you're giving it up, you're at the mercy of so many other people.

I only sound intelligent when there's a good script writer around.

I dreamt about you last night and woke up with such a great feeling because I know that you are not just a dream but the reality of my life. -Anonymous#romanceweek

If you're going to say what you want to say, you're going to hear what you don't want to hear.

The novel and the film of 'The Color Purple' are both works of the imagination that make claim to historical truth.

I am not alone in bearing grudges against reviewers who have doomed a book's chances because they've missed the point, the tone, everything.

But accuracy means something to me. It's vital to my sense of values. I've learned not to trust people who are inaccurate. Every aviator knows that if mechanics are inaccurate. aircraft crash.

I think it's an accumulation of work over the years, culminating with our work during the Hurricane Katrina-Rita relief effort.

No one can make you serve customers well. That's because great service is a choice.

Absolutely father knows best, always do what your fathers say, and if you can't find one then just ask me, I am a father and I know best.

Get the steppin' This is my show, I'm running things, here!

You make movies for the people. If critics happen to like them too, well, that's a home run.