Every time I sit down to write, I need to commit to a word count goal, otherwise I waste too much time editing and re-editing my previous work, staring dreamily off into space, pretending that I'm thinking profound, poetic thoughts when really I'm ju...
There was a time in my 40s where I thought, oh, it's all over - not just work, but I'm never going to feel young again, I'm always going to feel like I know what's going to happen, I'll know what to expect. Looking back I don't know if that was a mid...
If I'm not in the dead heat of working on something, I can end up spending tons and tons of time on the Web, and I hate it. I feel the same shame I did in grad school when I was pretty much addicted to reruns of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'. I wi...
You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's happy. I am, at 74. Some people like doing it, but I never was much for that, anyway. It's a lot of work. So the only thing I miss...
Abbe Faria: The slot opens twice a day. Once in the morning for your toilet bucket, which is where we hide the dirt. And once more in the evening for your plate. Between those times, we can work all day without fear of discovery. Edmond: So neglect b...
Blue Collar Man: Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but, uh, what are you talking about? Randal Graves: The ending of "Return of the Jedi". Dante Hicks: My friend here's trying to convince me that any independent contractors who were working on th...
[after Clark fails at lighting all the exterior Christmas lights at the "lighting ceremony" in front of the entire family] Frances: Talk about pissing your money away. I hope you kids see what a silly waste of resources this was. Audrey: He worked re...
Col. Rodin: There's nothing more you want from us. From now on you'll be working completely alone. The Jackal: Not completely. One will have the cooperation of de Gaulle. [the OAS members look astonished] The Jackal: Well, he won't listen to his secr...
Chicolini: Well, you remember you gave us a picture of this man and said, 'Follow him?' Ambassador Trentino: Oh, yes. Chicolini: Well, we get on-a the job right away and in the one hour - even-a less than one hour... Ambassador Trentino: Yes? Chicoli...
Ferris: Cameron, what have you seen today? Cameron: Nothing good. Ferris: Nothing - wha - what do you mean nothing good? We've seen everything good. We've seen the whole city! We went to a museum, we saw priceless works of art! We ate pancreas!
Harry: [about the Marauder's Map] Professor, just so you know I don't think that map always works. Earlier it showed someone in the castle... someone I know to be dead. Professor Lupin: Oh really, and who might that be? Harry: Peter Pettigrew. Profes...
Alan Garner: [while picking up Phil at the school where he works] Did you have to park so close? Doug Billings: Yeah, what's wrong? Alan Garner: I shouldn't be here. Doug Billings: Why is that, Alan? Alan Garner: I'm not supposed to be within two hun...
Ron Weasley: You heard Snape say he's made an Unbreakable Vow? Harry Potter: Yes. What does it mean? Ron Weasley: Well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow! Harry Potter: [sarcastic] I worked that much out for myself, funny enough.
Coach Norman Dale: I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. These six individuals have made a choice to work, a choice to sacrifice, to put themselves on the line 23 nights for the next 4 months, to represent you, this high sch...
Myra Fleener: Leave him alone, all right? He's a real special kid and, and I have high hopes for him and... I think if he works really hard, he can get an academic scholarship to Wabash College and can get out of this place. Coach Norman Dale: Why, d...
Helen: E, it's great to see you, but I gotta tell you, I've got no idea what you're talking about. Edna: Yes, words are useless! Gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble! Too much of it, darling, too much! That is why I show you my work! That is why you ar...
[discussing Tommy Plympton, the Bride's husband-to-be] Bill: And what does he do for a living? The Bride: He owns a record store. Bill: Ah. And what do you plan to do? The Bride: I work in the record store. Bill: Ah. Suddenly, it all seems so clear.
Atticus Finch: Do you know what a compromise is? Scout: Bendin' the law? Atticus Finch: [slightly bemused] Uh, no. It's an agreement reached by mutual consent. Now, here's the way it works. You concede the necessity of goin' to school, we'll keep rig...
Jean Valjean: When you're better, I'll find work for you. Fantine: But you don't understand, I'm a whore... and Cosette has no father. Jean Valjean: She has the Lord. He is her father. And you're his creation. In his eyes, you have never been anyting...
Nicholas Garrigan: I can't. It fucking stinks. I can't help coming back to that moment when I asked you to talk to him. This isn't me. I have to go home now. Idi Amin: You cannot. Nicholas Garrigan: What? Idi Amin: Your work is not finished here yet.
Charlotte: So, what are you doing here? Bob: Uh, a couple of things. Taking a break from my wife, forgetting my son's birthday. And, uh, getting paid two million dollars to endorse a whiskey when I could be doing a play somewhere. Charlotte: Oh. Bob:...
