"The problem with most people is that they're not willing to take risks. They want to play it safe, and that's why they never achieve anything great."

"I've never been interested in making films that are easy to understand. I want to make films that challenge people, that make them think."

"The greatest victory is to conquer yourself."

"I don't think there's any such thing as a happy ending. I think there's just an ending."

"The novel (The Shining) is by no means a serious literary work, but the plot is for the most part extremely well worked out, and for a film that is all that really matters."