John Sayles

But compared to writing a novel, where you can be God, I did the Bay of Pigs invasion in six pages once,…

— John Sayles

Not that I've always loved the movie when they finally come out, or if they ever come out-because many of them don't…

— John Sayles

I think I got spoiled and that writing a short story and getting it published, or writing a novel and getting it…

— John Sayles

I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something I wanted to be. An outfielder was…

— John Sayles

My argument has always been that this is not an anti-Bush film, it's a pro-democracy film. And if Bush comes out on…

— John Sayles

To this day, I get rewrite offers where they say: 'We feel this script needs work with character, dialogue, plot and tone,'…

— John Sayles

And it was out in the theaters in two weeks. This is not, 'We're going to develop twenty-five and maybe one's going…

— John Sayles

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

— John Sayles

You get to say, 'Here's my philosophical idea about what the costume should like,' and the costume designer comes and gives you…

— John Sayles

“There is great literature about imprisonment, . . . about the foot soldier, . . . about the sea -- but not one great work about flying.”

— John Sayles

Sometimes people can't afford to work for you, or they're not interested or available, and you hate to have written the whole…

— John Sayles

I certainly grew up seeing more movies and television than I read books, but when it came time to do the thing…

— John Sayles

When I read a story or see something play out in front of me I say, how come nobody's made a movie…

— John Sayles

For me the writing, when I'm going to direct it myself, is really just the first draft, and I don't change it…

— John Sayles

I remember being out here at the Sunset Marquis, and whoever knocked on the door, I would take that picture that I…

— John Sayles

I don't have a social agenda. I just don't choose to ignore what's in front of me.

— John Sayles

I'm never at a loss for new projects.

— John Sayles

I probably wouldn't have done as many as I did in one year, which I did when I was trying to raise…

— John Sayles

“The only difference between dancing and fucking," he said in those days, "is that you don't fuck in front of a live…

— John Sayles

Michael Moore, whether you like him or hate him, has done something very important.

— John Sayles

“What is the point of knowledge if you can't use it to prevail over others?”

— John Sayles

I've always got five or six things that would either make a good feature or TV show. And you just never know.…

— John Sayles

It's a mixed crowd at the dogs - black, white, hispanic - but to Walt they all look like Jackie Gleason. Heavyset…

— John Sayles

I always feel that there are no final victories and no final defeats. But it's true that America is in a hole…

— John Sayles

I've always felt like I was on the margins. Once upon a time that's what independent used to mean.

— John Sayles