William Goldman (b. August 12, 1931) is an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He came to prominence in the 1950s as a novelist, before turning to writing for film. He has won two Academy Awards for his screenplays, first for the western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and again for All the President's Men (1976), about journalists who broke the Watergate scandal of President Richard Nixon: both films starring Robert Redford. His other notable works include his thriller novel Marathon Man and comedy-fantasy novel The Princess Bride, both of which Goldman adapted for film. (Click here for full Wikipedia article)
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All people really want is a wonderful story, and you can tell it in any genre.
As far as the filmmaking process is concerned, stars are essentially worthless- and absolutely essential.
Cynics are simply thwarted romantics.
Hollywood is making, because of costs, fewer interesting films. So, basically you end up with a lot of explosions.
I am instinctive. Which means- and I really mean this- I don't know what I'm doing!
I just don't want to get there and find out it stinks.
I taught once by mistake in 1966 at Princeton. I wrote 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' there.
I think like anything, it helps to be born with skill. I'm not sure genius exists.
I think that people like going into a dark room with strangers and sharing something. They have for 2,500 years. I think we just like that experience.
I'll tell you the truth and it's up to you to live with it.
If you are a writer, you live your life in a pit.
It (writing) ain't about inspiration. It's about going into a room alone and doing it.
Life is pain... anyone says differently is selling something.
Life isn't fair, it's just fairer than death, that's all.
Love is many things none of them logical.
Never argue with your wife about hostility when she's a certified Freudian.
Nobody knows anything.
One way an author dies a little each day is when his books go out of print.
Studio executives are intelligent, brutally overworked men and women who share one thing in common with baseball managers: They wake up every morning of the world with the knowledge that sooner or later they're going to get fired.
The easiest thing to do on earth is not write.
There is one crucial rule that must be followed in all creative meetings. Never speak first. At least at the start, your job is to shut up.
True love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops.
Understand this: all the sleaze you've heard about Hollywood? All the illiterate scumbags who scuttle down the corridors of power? They are there, all right, and worse than you can imagine.
Who says life is fair, where is that written?
You can never trust what you read.
Categories: Quotes of the day, William Goldman
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