Actually, I think the average voice is like 70 percent tone and 30 percent noise. My voice is 95 percent noise.

[on the late Robin Williams] Robin was friend, boss, brother, inspiration. His generosity and intelligence knew no limits. Only his home planet could destroy him.

[on Torch Song Trilogy (1988)] I'm happy that we made it. Is it everything I wanted it to be? Is anything ever? I fought with [director] Paul Bogart because I had based the entire third act on a song by Big Maybelle. When we went to make the movie, Paul refused to put it in the movie. We used a beautiful Ella Fitzgerald recording of "This Time the Dream's on Me", which is very pretty, but it doesn't have that emotion. But to Paul, it did. It's life. I really am a theater person. That means you put something out there, and you let it go. Tomorrow night is a new performance.

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.

The great thing about suicide is that it's not one of those things you have to do now or you lose your chance. I mean, you can always do it later.

Always admit when you're wrong. You'll save thousands in therapy... and a few friendships too.

Beware of anyone who says they know. Trust me, they don't, or they wouldn't have to say they did.