I was the only Black person on the set. It was unusual for me to be in a circumstance in which every move I made was tantamount to representation of 18 million people.

An appreciable number of directors have shifted to lower-cost films, allowing them to be satisfied with a more modest return.

Far as I can tell, I still have most of my hair, my gut is not hanging over my belt, and I still have all of my teeth.

History passes the final judgment.

I always wanted to be someone better the next day than I was the day before.

I don't very often read novels.

I get offered work these days.

I had learned something of Miami from people who had visited there, so I knew what to expect.

I had to satisfy the action fans, the romantic fans, the intellectual fans. It was a terrific burden.

I had two roles for which I compromised.

I sometimes like the pictures photographers take of me.

I wanted to look at them because I feel, internally, that I am an ordinary person who has had an extraordinary life.

I was not the kind of a principal player that was so in demand that eight or 10 or 12 scripts came per month.

I'd seen my father. He was a poor man, and I watched him do astonishing things.

I'll always be chasing you... Glory.

I'm going to quit writing.

I'm not a library.

If you apply reason and logic to this career of mine, you're not going to get very far. You simply won't.

In America, it is difficult to be your own man.

In my case, the body of work stands for itself... I think my work has been representative of me as a man.