230 Quotes by Spike Lee

It comes down to this: black people were stripped of our identities when we were brought here, and it’s been a quest since then to define who we are.

I really don’t deal with hypotheticals.

I don’t really analyze my stuff when I write. I write about stuff that I’m interested in, that I’m feeling at that particular time. When I stand back and look at the complete work, I might see themes that run through the whole film, but I’m not really conscious of it when I’m doing it.

As a writer I want everybody to get a chance to voice their opinions. If each character thinks that they’re telling the truth, then it’s valid. Then at the end of the film, I leave it up to the audience to decide who did the right thing.

I’m just trying to tell a good story and make thought-provoking, entertaining films. I just try and draw upon the great culture we have as a people, from music, novels, the streets.

A spine to my films that’s become more evident to me is that many are about the choices people make, and the reverberations of those choices. You go this way, or that way, and either way, there’s going to be consequences.

All directors are storytellers, so the motivation was to tell the story I wanted to tell. That’s what I love.

I’ve always tried to – when I’ve been able to – support young artists, no matter what medium.

Critics like to build you up, tear you down, and then, if you’re lucky, build you up again.