Writing on a contract for a major studio you get the very best.

I met The Beatles and Stones at the same time, because Michael Cooper was doing several of their album covers.

When Kubrick decided to go the black comedy route with his movie, he thought of me to give it that flavor.

The important thing in writing is the capacity to astonish. Not shock - shock is a worn-out word - but astonish.

I'm not interested in attacking, I'm interested in astonishing.

Someone wrote a piece about Henry Green in The Partisan Review that was so intriguing that I got one of his novels, Loving, I believe, which was the first that came to attention in the United States.

There is no power on earth that can loosen a man's grip on his own throat

In that sense, film is superior, but the difficulty is your lack of control as a writer.

You can't do the end of the world in a conventionally dramatic way or Boy Meets Girl way.

When I finally made it to the set, I spent a lot of time doing damage control on The Magic Christian.

After Strangelove I also started work on an adaptation of The Collector.

The problem with trying hard not to think about something was that you thought about it even more.

Make sure you live, ' she said. 'As decent as you can. I know you'll make mistakes, but sometimes you're meant to, okay?

If I've learned anything this trip, it's that you have to take responsibility for what you don't do, as well as what you do.

Talking doesn't get your point across but listening does.

True love begins with an innocent smile.

I am forced to say that I have many fiercer critics than myself.

Those who submit to the Lord with simple heart will run the good race. If they keep their minds on a leash, they will not draw the wickedness of the demons onto themselves.

Never back down from a real challenge. They give the best lessons in life.

Nothing is unfixable.

Music is my drug, the one thing that makes me numb.