David E. Kelley Quotes

Though many have tried, no one has ever yet explained away the decisive fact that science, which can do so much, cannot decide what it ought to do.

I don't make that hard and fast distinction between political and nonpolitical writing. I write about what bothers me.

Even though there's an entertainment value to the film, I think it's very important because you can't really separate the impact of that political message from it. It's rare that you get films like that I think; that really have an important message and are also entertaining.

A good writer cannot avoid having social consciousness. I don't mean this about small pieces of writing, but about a big book. If it's a big book, there has to be more than one undertow.

At the end of the day, if there are truly ethical considerations, those have to override scientific considerations.

The reason I want to show shocking things is that they always pose an ethical question.

I don't have a constituency, and I'm not autobiographical in any way. I write these deeply moral books in a country which would prefer irony to anything with a moral tone.

Hollywood has always been political. They consider it their right and duty to tell us what is politically good and right.

I don't write to give joy to readers but to give them a conscience.

To conceive the good, in fact, is not sufficient; it must be made to succeed among men. To accomplish this less pure paths must be followed.

It didn't occur to me to go into something that didn't have an ethical return for me.

I've participated in meetings where there were concerns by ethical experts. There is no clear solution.

Good men must not obey the laws too well.

An ethical action, like an unethical action, is usually analyzed by politicians purely in pragmatic terms.

I'm not really sure what social message my art carries, if any. And I don't really want it to carry one. I'm not interested in the subject matter to try to teach society anything, or to try to better our world in any way.

It's very hard to turn your back once you're aware of what's going on, and you're aware of the injustices, and you're aware of the civilian casualties. It's much easier if you have no idea and you've never seen it.

When you make movies, you have to be preoccupied with the social problems, otherwise there is no point in making a movie. To have a story, you need a social problem. Not necessarily a problem, but something to get the idea for a story, otherwise there's no story.

We are now facing a problem more of ethics than of physics.

I think it's important to hold a mirror up to society and yourself.

To call someone like me a writer-activist suggests that it's not the job of a writer to write about the society in which they live. But it used to be our job.

I wouldn't say even that I'm a broadly political person. But on occasion, I have felt that I have no choice but to paint something with a strong moral stance.

I think that's the great thing about all 'Black Mirror' episodes - it really leaves you with this feeling of not knowing how to feel.

Although everything has a political connotation today, 'Mulk' is a social film, to be honest. It is not about any political leader, party or ideology.

Because of my song 'Sam Stone,' a lot of people thought I was interested in writing protest songs. Writing protest songs always struck me as patting yourself on the back.

Whether I act or direct I ensure that there is a social message attached.