Morgan Freeman Quotes

I don't consider myself bossy, but I do know what I want. You know, I have a gut feeling about a piece of material, but I've never envisioned myself as the director on top of the hill with a megaphone in my hand, screaming at 1,000 extras.

MAKE STATEMENTS also applies to us women: Speak in statements instead of apologetic questions. No one wants to go to a doctor who says, “I’m going to be your surgeon? I’m here to talk to you about your procedure? I was first in my class at Johns Hopkins, so?” Make statements, with your actions and your voice.

Men have no confidence in an officer who doesn't know his own mind.

I need to gain a lot more experience. I think so much of being a director, other than the technical aspect and the artistry of it, is the confidence that you are, I think in many ways, you're the captain of the ship.

One of life's terrible truths is that women like guys who seem to know what they're doing.

As a director, if you know what you want, then it's not scary.

I'm a rather decisive type.

People respond well to those that are sure of what they want.

Becoming artistic directors is an enormous responsibility and not one that we take lightly.

He [Oliver Stone] is great. I really like working with directors who know what they want and aren't afraid to tell you, "Do it like this. Don't do it like that."

Saying 'no' or even 'stop' is the hallmark of the professional you want on your team.

As a director you have to - you don't have the option of saying, "I'm not watching this."

If you want to be a leader, it doesn't mean that you have to have an opinion on everything. But if you do have an opinion and it is clear and you feel strongly about it, then you should say it.

You don't have to be loud. If you know what you want, people respect that.

Never apologize. Never explain.

If you want to judge me, I can handle it.

Modesty and diffidence make a man unfit for public affairs; they also make him unfit for brothels.

I'm very shy. But as a director and especially a female director, absolutely: How I used to walk on the court is how I walk on set. And I have to - I mean, I'm controlling 150, 200 people, and everything is on me.

It's better to decide wrongly than weakly. If you're weak, you're likely to be wrong anyway.

Don't say it's impossible! Turn your command over to the next officer. If he can't do it, I'll find someone who can, even if I have to take him from the ranks!

I can rely on me [being a director], unlike some actors. I never got anything less than what I needed from the lead actor.

When you're in command, command.

I love women who are bosses and who don't constantly worry about what their employees think of them. I love women who don't ask, "Is that OK?" after everything they say. I love when women are courageous in the face of unthinkable circumstances, like my mother when she was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. Or like Gabrielle Giffords writing editorials for the New York Times about the cowardice of Congress regarding gun laws and using phrases like "mark my words" like she is Clint Eastwood. How many women say stuff like that?

Nothing important was ever accomplished without chutzpah. Columbus had chutzpah. The signers of the Declaration of Independence had chutzpah. Don't ever aim doubt at yourself. Laugh at yourself, but don't doubt yourself.