"I believe we need to attract a new generation of the best and brightest to public service and I believe that government can be a source of inspiration, not degradation."

"People go into politics because they want the affirmation, and they want the applause."

"Ninety percent of the students take the 'preferred lender.' Why? Because that's the nature of the relationship. You trust the school. The school is in a position of authority."

"I am the government."

"I like being in movies that have a great story. I'm not so interested in being a Hollywood star. It's a job, you know. When you wake up at six in the morning every day for a week, it feels like hard work."

"I used to work in a funeral home to feel good about myself, just the fact that I was breathing."

"When you raise taxes on small business, from 35% to 40%, you will kill jobs."

"If my films make one more person miserable, I'll feel I have done my job."