“I have a little bitty notebook in my pocket. I have slightly larger notebooks with spiral binding and then I have my computer. I keep 3 pens in my jacket pocket always — one black, one red, one blue.”

“I'm in a weird position since I left, and it's a little maddening. People coming up saying, ‘Please run again, please run again,’ and I go, ‘Well, I'm keeping my options open.’ And that's what I say.’”

“I'm a Jewish woman who goes to the doctor, I assure you. I had a sister who died of breast cancer, the last thing I've ever told anyone, much less an AIDS patient, is that they shouldn't take their medicine.”

“I'm an American — that's what I do for a living — I tell our stories. Each film is essentially asking the same question: Who are we? Who are those strange and complicated people who like to call themselves Americans?”

“Look, my priority is my career. It's my public service, but I want to try to live as balanced a life as I can. I think it's better to start now than to start 10 years from now.”

“A hundred duck-sized Chris Christies, because I think vanquishing each of them would be so satisfying.”

“I'm from the West – I don’t trifle with people, and I won't be trifled with. I don't care if you're a president, general, prime minster, et cetera.”

“We're all of value. If a 15-year-old kid writes with a question or comment, you should take it seriously and respond.”

“I sing along a lot. First off, I like to sing; the Jewish liturgy is full of evocations to sing to the Lord, as this is something that befits our Creator, and maybe enriches our own religious experience.”

“If I could interview any one person, it would be Abraham Lincoln. He was in my view, the greatest American.”

“My screen time is probably my biggest weakness or most embarrassing thing about me.”

“It's the only picture I have anywhere of me with a famous person, you know . . . because it's Jerry Garcia.”

“Tennis is the first time outside of guitar where I actually have to be focused.”