Mel Gibson

“It's a wise man who understands that every day is a new beginning, because boy, how many mistakes do you make in a day? I don't know about you, but I make plenty. You can't turn the clock back, so you have to look ahead.”

“The very first idea I ever had about making a film... my first thought about ever being a filmmaker was when I was sixteen years old and I wanted to make a Viking movie. And I wanted to make it in old Norse, which I was studying at the time. It's odd because at that age that's a stupidly ridiculous idea 'cause how will I ever be a filmmaker.”

“Well, if you look at the whole story, I mean there's only Jews and Romans in the story. I mean I just wanted to flesh that character out and make that a drama about the people around Christ when he was going through this passion.”

“You ask anybody what their number one fear is, and it's public humiliation. Multiply that on a global scale, and that's what I've been through.”

“When you get to that point where you don't want to live, and you don't want to die, it's a desperate, horrible place to be. And I just hit my knees. And I had to use 'The Passion of the Christ' to heal my wounds.”

“Religion and politics hit nerves. There's a lot of anger about a lot of things. It's not easily resolved. I guess that's what wars are about. Wars are about prejudice and fear. Hit first before you get hit. Believe me, I know.”

“Well, I think any time you delve into this sort of religion, politics, as you well know, you're going to, you know, touch a few nerves. I wasn't - now - and this is the honest truth.”

“Boot Camp was great and very interesting. You got to use live rounds of ammunition and got to do a lot of crawling around with live rounds flying around you, so you really had to learn to keep your ass down - everything down for that matter.”

“I think any kind of hiatus one takes in an artistic journey is going to make a huge difference. The pause will inform the choices that you make.”

“The thing we're all looking for is happiness, and if we achieve just a modicum of that or even a little piece of serenity even for five minutes a day, we're very lucky.”

“I'll always continue to work. I've never much depended on anyone but myself, as far as that goes.”

“A woman should be home with the children, building that home and making sure there's a secure family atmosphere.”

“I don't care if I don't act anymore.”

“I got the acting bug back because I felt like all of a sudden maybe after all these years, maybe I might have something to offer again. I walked away from it after 'Signs' because I just felt I was a bit stale and it wasn't ringing my bells, so I focused on directing, writing and producing.”

“Acting feels different. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but it used to mean a lot more. Maybe that sounds like I'm throwing it away and I'm not, I'll still do the best damn job I can, but it doesn't mean the same thing. I'm going to get the answer for myself one of these days. It's the male menopause, that's what it is.”

“I have learned that a bitter experience can make you stronger.”

“I'm always writing. There is always a story brewing in my head.”

“I don't think the audience always listens to the critics. That's been proven time and time again.”

“The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just direction traffic.”

“There has to be some kind of order and some moral code. I don't know how people can function without a belief in a deity.”