"As a writer, or as a filmmaker, you have to present yourself, and part of what yourself is is what you're interested in, or what you think is funny, or what you think is sad, or what you think is horrible."

"I'm interested in trying to explore what I think is the truth at a given time in my life, and part of the process of being honest is - in my mind - talking about the idea that you're watching a movie. You're sitting here watching a movie. And I like that. It appeals to me intellectually, and also in a way I can't even explain."

"I've kind of come to the conclusion that what passes for realism in movies has nothing to do with reality and that my stuff is more realistic than that."

"If you create something that is asking for people to respond as they're going to respond, you have to allow them to respond as they're going to respond. Some of the people are going to be uninterested and some people are going to be mad for some reason, which is their business. That's just the way the world is."

"A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose."

"When I was a kid, my step dad started this business and would go out and get lost cows and stuff. He was part-time truck driver, farmer and cowboy. He taught me how to ride from an early age."

"I do respect people's faith, but I don't respect their manipulation of that faith in order to create fear and control."

"True liberty consists only in the power of doing what we ought to will, and in not being constrained to do what we ought not to will."