I started getting on my feet and clowning around, and they ended up putting me in a play when I was 12. And I was hooked.

When you have a person in power who punishes people for speaking their mind, it's truly dangerous.

I mean, what are they scared of? Who's going to vote for anyone from the Communist Party, for God's sake?

Toy Soldiers was my introduction to film. I certainly didn't think I was doing art by any stretch of the imagination.

I wouldn't say I'm a method actor. I do research when I feel I don't have enough experience for the part I'm playing.

My father described me as the oldest baby he'd ever seen. I apparently was very serious and reflective.

Just because someone gets arrested doesn't mean what they are doing is wrong. Some laws are unfair and unjust.

If you find yourself in a movie that you have questions about, it's not a compromise to your integrity.

I ran spotlight. Swept up. Did box office. Ran the lighting board. But acting was the most fun.

I don't think people have been able to deal with the fact that African American filmmakers can make movies about life and relationships.

I couldn't care less about being a presenter at the Oscars.

I wouldn't even get elected. I'd probably deck a couple of people, too which would not play very well with the national media.

There is absolutely no way that I would enter that world. I would never run for office.

I don't care about Clinton's haircuts or his affairs or any of that stuff.

You had to know how to fight or you had to know how to avoid a fight. I didn't enjoy fighting, so I learned how to avoid them.

Most good actors have a huge intelligence about the human condition and a real open heart to different kinds of people and behavior.

Bush is very clever. When the debate should have been about the deterioration of our cities and the lack of action by government, he sent in his idiot to make an outrageous statement about Murphy Brown.

It's difficult when you have to turn down a tremendous amount of money because you don't like what the script is saying and you don't have any money.

Is Walt turning over in his grave? A man named Joe Roth runs Disney right now-he gave me the go-ahead and total freedom to do whatever I wanted to do.

Susan is just great. I know I'm biased, but she's a great actress.

When you make the judgement as a network that there are only three candidates, you are censoring points of view.

I've used drugs that I do consider to be dangerous, drugs that are potentially detrimental to kids and society at large.

I think the enemy is self-censorship. In a free society the biggest danger is that you're afraid to the point where you censor yourself.

If I'm a commodity, it wouldn't be a wise idea to buy stock in me - although, in the long run, maybe I'm a slow growth investment.

I learned never to listen to acting teachers because they don't know what the hell they're talking about.

I started getting on my feet and clowning around, and they ended up putting me in a play when I was 12. And I was hooked.

My philosophy is, don't take no for an answer and be willing to sacrifice your entire project for freedom.

I've long ago compromised my eight hours a night.

I like Spike Lee a lot. He's incredibly gifted and I don't think he gets the credit he deserves as a filmmaker.

It's certainly a lot more difficult to get a project made if you're talking about something progressive. That's just the nature of the industry.

I'm six foot four and a half and I have a temper. It's reserved for very important issues. If someone is asking me to make an artistic concession, then I'll become a madman.

Any time you're trying to do a movie with a happy ending, it's very difficult because it's been done before and you don't want to be manipulative.

Americans accept that gangsters are running the government.

American people are not evil. Given information, they will do the right thing. But they're not given the information.

There are a great number of Republicans who are economically conservative but have hearts and a consciousness about their country.

It was dangerous to hit the wrong kid in my neighborhood, because a lot of the guys I played with had fathers in the Mafia.

I love iconoclasts. I love individuals. I love people that are true to themselves, whatever the cost.

I've been lucky-my looks haven't put me into one category. I don't look like a blue blood. I don't look like a criminal. I don't look like anything.

I was a sports fan, but I also went to peace marches.

I'm not gangly; I'm very coordinated. I do have a bit of a baby face. But I guess that just means I'll be working longer.

There are dumb actors. But there are dumb politicians and dumb bakers.

If you're in the position to help someone and you do it, it's very rewarding.

Every man dies. Not every man lives.

There's the theory that nudity doesn't really make something sexy; the characters and their relationship make it sexy.

Considering the fact that I've used it in the past, and know what it is, and seen the results of it, I don't view marijuana as a dangerous drug.

New York is not conductive to theater. New York does not encourage its young. It does not encourage experimentation.

There's nothing more boring than unintelligent actors, because all they have to talk about is themselves and acting. There have to be other things.

Altman was told they wouldn't do the film with me. He could easily have abandoned me, but he stood by me and really bailed me out.

I have personal beliefs and they are sometimes reflected in the movies I make, but I also reflect other points of view.