There are no small steps in great affairs.

A man who doesn't trust himself can never really trust anyone else.

In a major matter no details are small.

Of all the passions, fear weakens judgment most.

Weak souls always set to work at the wrong time.

A man who does not trust himself will never really trust anybody.

Every numerous assembly is a mob; everything there depends on instantaneous turns.

Persecution to persons in a high rank stands them in the stead of eminent virtue.

It's easier to fight one's enemies than to get on with one's friends.

When you are obliged to make a statement that you know will cause displeasure, you must say it with every appearance of sincerity; this is the only way to make it palatable.

Great men help dazzle the people; after that, they dazzle themselves even more dangerously.

My mother always said 'Don't bother other people.' I think that's good advice.

This sadness wasn't a huge part of me--I wasn't remotely depressed--but still, it was like a stone I carried in my pocket. I always knew it was there. [p. 179]

Who knows what real really is...

Churches have given us great treasures such as music and architecture. Whether that pays for the harm they have done is another matter.

No, I like today's cinema a lot. But I've spent so many decades only making movies. There's so much that I still want to do. Like, live. It's only up to me.

Every problem solved is a problem made.

I'd like to pretend that I've never seen anything, never read anything, never heard anything... and then make something.

Why should the eyes be denied what delights them most?

I believe reality is a marvelous joke staged for my edification and amusement and everybody is working very hard to make me happy.

I just want people to come to my stuff and escape and see me as a character, not as anything else.