"You've got to understand something about me and my career: I'm a romantic in life philosophy, in how I look at the world, the beauty of nature, of relationships. But I never got to do those roles. In my twenties, I wanted to be in a Splendor in the Grass."

"My students always ask me to explain the ending, or what the film means. I can’t. I only know it has a powerful effect on me. The documentary on the making of the movie, in which we discover Kieslowski’s philosophy and methods, has become required viewing in all my classes."

"Why Shaggs’ Own Thing and not Philosophy Of The World? The reason is, Philosophy of the World is bad and Shaggs’ Own Thing is a beautiful, sad record. It’s not like what people normally think about The Shaggs; it’s not them at their most shambolic. It doesn't get you in the gut and it’s not ridiculous. It’s really not a train wreck. Well, maybe it is like a train wreck, or maybe more like a badly assembled car that still gets you where you want to go. It’s not a smooth ride, but it is beautiful. It’s like another language. There’s nobody else like them. They sound just how they should sound. But this record didn’t actually have much of an impact because it was actually subtle."

"There is only one Patrick Swayze, and this is the ultimate Swayze flick. As a Mercedes-driving bouncer with a degree in philosophy, he is perhaps the second-greatest action hero of all time. It’s almost as if Walker, Texas Ranger and Billy Jack had a smarter, better-looking brother who also knew how to dance. I can watch this movie forever."

"This book, whose title translates as “100 Elephants on a Blade of Grass,” begins with His Holiness’ moving Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. It was the first serious book on Buddhism that I read, and it inspired me to learn more about the philosophy. I attribute most of the qualities I have today to the spirituality and teachings of His Holiness."

"One of the few novels I’ve ever read twice (though it’s been about 20 years, so it might be time for a re-read). A philosophy book in the form of a novel that has very little to do with motorcycle maintenance. Instead, it has a lot to do with the elusive aspects of “quality,” and the importance of attitude in your approach to life."