"I saw a photograph of a wedding conducted by Reverend Moon of the Unification Church. I wanted to understand this event, and the only way to understand it was to write about it."

"I watch movies occasionally, and I watch documentaries. Virtually nothing else."

"In the face of technology, everything becomes a little atavistic."

"There's a connection between the advances that are made in technology and the sense of primitive fear people develop in response to it."

"I hate movies that tell people what to think. I'm proud that Democrats thought 'Thank You For Smoking' was their film and Republicans thought it was theirs. I'm proud that pro-choice people thought 'Juno' was their film and pro-life people thought it was theirs."

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."

"The direction of the mind is more important than its progress."

"I've always liked Saturn. But I also have some sympathy for Pluto because I heard it's been downgraded from a planet, and I think it should remain a planet. Once you've given something planetary status it's kind of mean to take it away."