Louis Malle's Quotes

Well, Fellini... there is always Fellini.

You must find the note, the correct key, for your story. If you find it, everything will work. If you do not, everything will stick out like elbows.

I didn't feel like going any further in this scene with the boy. He was not a professional actor, and if I had pushed the scene any further it would have destroyed the tone of the movie.

When you are working on a script, the story itself is not difficult. You say this would happen and then this, resulting perhaps in this. And the dialogue you make as true as you can.

Affliction is the wholesome soil of virtue, where patience, honor, sweet humility, and calm fortitude, take root and strongly flourish.

The wailing owl Screams solitary to the mournful moon.

A sovereign's great example forms a people; the public breast is noble or vile as he inspires it.

I courted fame but as a spur to brave and honest deeds; who despises fame will soon renounce the virtues that deserve it.

True valor, on virtue founded strong, meets all events alike.

Uncertainty! fell demon of our fears! The human soul that can support despair, supports not thee.

Who hath not known ill fortune, never knew himself, or his own virtue.

How many pessimists end up by desiring the things they fear, in order to prove that they are right.