Quotes About Perspective

I don't think of it as a competition - which might surprise you, given the way movies are reported constantly.

I wouldn't say that I relax and enjoy anything. But I think my pessimism helps. I never really expect anything good to happen, so when it does, it's a nice surprise.

I guess the biggest surprise I got going to Iran was that the Iranians really liked me as an American.

When you reach 95, after you get over your surprise, you start looking back.

As children we were bombarded by competing answers. Church says one thing, school another. Now as adults it's no surprise that if we discuss the nature of it all, we generally spout some combination of the two, depending on our individual inclination and mood.

Delusion is not good; better to be realistic and then surprise yourself if you're lucky.

After 'Jewel In the Crown,' I hardly worked at all for about six months - which came as a bit of a surprise, I have to admit.

It's called 'Dear White People,' but really, it's about these black characters and how they are involved or not involved in a racial scandal in ways that might surprise them and others, right?

I don't believe in rankings. Sometimes the rankings surprise me. I don't think it's fair to judge a team on the basis of rankings.

I can't control everything that's said, but I've been around. Nothing will surprise me.

People would be surprised to know how much I learned about prayer from playing poker.

I wasn't in any way a kind of soothsayer or not surprised when Sept. 11 happened. I was absolutely shocked.

I'm always surprised when some director says, 'When I saw this film, that changed my life.' I don't have that.

I never thought about having a daughter, and then I had a daughter, and it was a remarkable thing. It was very different from having a son and your response to it. With a son, it's much more complex. And it's probably because of my stuff in the past. With a daughter, I was surprised at how simple it is.

We are constantly being surprised that people did things well before we were born.

I'm really not sure what people think or expect me to be, but I am surprised when people say, 'You're not supposed to be like that... ' I'm not exactly sure what 'that' is, so I choose to take it as a compliment.

I don't have a sense of entitlement or that I deserve this. You'd be surprised at the lack of competition between nominees - I think a lot of it's imposed from the outside. Can I have my champagne now?

I hope people listen to black people more. You'd be surprised how little people listen to black people when it comes to racial issues. It's weird.

I've never been an optimist, but that's fine because pessimists have the possibility of being agreeably surprised.

It's always good to have no expectations when you see a film. Then you can be pleasantly disappointed or surprised.

I will interview bigwigs if I get the chance, but you are seldom surprised by people in power - you've got to get awfully damn close to get anything new.

You may be surprised to discover you're rich, especially if you're broke.

I think all my films can be enjoyed. In fact, they've often surprised me with how they're received.

I guess it's easier to think badly and then be pleasantly surprised.