Joss Whedon Quotes

Powerful Joss Whedon for Daily Growth

About Joss Whedon

Joss Whedon, born June 23, 1964, in New York City, is an accomplished American director, screenwriter, producer, and comic book writer, renowned for his unique storytelling style and the creation of complex, diverse characters. Raised primarily in California, Whedon developed a love for storytelling at a young age, influenced by his father's extensive comic book collection and films such as "Star Wars" and "2001: A Space Odyssey." He began writing stories, creating worlds, and developing characters while still in high school. Whedon's professional career took off with the creation of the critically acclaimed television series, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," initially envisioned as a film but later developed into a TV show that ran from 1997 to 2003. The show, which centered around Buffy Summers, a young woman with the destiny of fighting vampires and other supernatural beings, broke new ground with its exploration of complex themes such as friendship, loss, identity, and self-discovery. Following "Buffy," Whedon created a number of successful TV series, including "Angel," "Firefly," "Dollhouse," and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," all marked by their wit, emotional depth, and diverse casts. His work in film includes the blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe movies "The Avengers" and its sequel, "Avengers: Age of Ultron." Whedon's impact on popular culture is significant, with his works often celebrated for their strong, empowered female characters and inclusive storytelling. His influence extends beyond television and film into comic books, as he co-wrote the graphic novel "Fray" and penned stories for Marvel Comics. Throughout his career, Joss Whedon has demonstrated a unique ability to create engaging, thought-provoking narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Anything possible, anything meaningful is worth doing well."

Joss Whedon's quote emphasizes that if an action or endeavor holds potential for greatness or significance, then it should be pursued with dedication, skill, and diligence. This statement encourages individuals to strive for excellence in all aspects of life, as meaningful achievements are more likely to result from committed effort. By setting high standards and putting forth our best efforts, we can make a positive impact on ourselves and those around us.

"The hardest things are not necessarily those which are outside our resources or abilities, but the things that touch us at a tender place within ourselves."

This quote suggests that challenges that have a deep emotional impact, rather than merely demanding external resources or skills, are often the most difficult. These challenges tap into our vulnerabilities, personal sensitivities, or emotions, making them more challenging to confront and overcome. It emphasizes that our inner struggles can sometimes be as daunting as external obstacles, requiring emotional strength, self-awareness, and resilience.

"Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly."

This quote emphasizes that what one perceives as 'normal' or orderly is often relative, depending on one's perspective. For instance, a spider's web may appear chaotic to a fly, but it serves a purpose and provides structure for the spider. Similarly, in human terms, what seems ordinary or standard for some individuals might be confusing, challenging, or uncomfortable for others. It encourages us to empathize with others and understand that their 'normal' is different from our own.

"I don't want to be a villain, I just want to be a really good guy in a story nobody's reading."

Joss Whedon's quote signifies feelings of underappreciation and insignificance, especially in the context of one's actions or contributions. Despite striving to do what is morally right and upstanding, the speaker feels ignored or overlooked by the world at large, much like an unpopular character in a story. This quote can resonate with individuals who feel their efforts go unnoticed or misunderstood, encouraging them to continue being "a really good guy" while also highlighting the human tendency to seek recognition and connection.

"Every person makes a difference, every life touches other lives and the sum of those connections add up to what we call society."

This quote emphasizes the fundamental interconnectedness and value of every individual in shaping society. Every person's actions, interactions, and experiences contribute to the collective fabric of our world, forming a complex network of relationships that we recognize as "society". It suggests that each life holds significance not only in its own right but also in the impact it has on others and society at large.

I would love to give you a more in-depth coherent explanation of my view of the soul, and if I had one I would. The soul and my concept of it are as ephemeral as anybody's, and possibly more so.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Give, More, Coherent

My first gig ever was writing looplines for a movie that had already been made. You know, writing lines over somebody's back to explain something, to help make a connection, to add a joke, or to just add babble because the people are in frame and should be saying something.

- Joss Whedon

Movie, Explain, Been, Gig

I always enjoy conversation more if there is some substance to it - which is a just incredibly hilarious thing for me to say because for many, many years I was the guy whose only contribution to any conversation was, 'There was a funny 'Simpson's' joke about that.'

- Joss Whedon

Enjoy, Some, About, Hilarious

I was not popular in school, and I was definitely not a ladies' man. And I had a very painful adolescence, because it was all very strange to me. It wasn't like I got beat up, but the humiliation and isolation, and the existential 'God, I exist, and nobody cares' of being a teenager were extremely pronounced for me.

- Joss Whedon

Got, Very, Had, Beat

I don't know a lot of show runners. I mean I met a lot of them in picket lines. I'm not part of a, like, secret society or pickup basketball game. As far as I'm concerned, pick-up basketball games are secret societies. They confuse me. I've never been a networker or I've never been very social.

- Joss Whedon

Game, Been, Very, Picket

What 'Scream' was great at was presenting ironic detachment and then making you actually care about the people that were having it, and juxtaposing it with their situation, all in the service of making a great horror movie. It was fresh.

- Joss Whedon

Making, Detachment, Having, Horror Movie

My deal with Marvel is I have a consulting deal with them as well as a contract to make 'Avengers.' That means I'll read all the scripts, I'll look at cuts.

- Joss Whedon

Deal, Means, Read, Cuts

I find that when you read a script, or rewrite something, or look at something that's been gone over, you can tell, like rings on a tree, by how bad it is, how long it's been in development.

- Joss Whedon

Development, Over, Been, Rings

I am not a fan of referencing your own work when it's in a different universe than what you're doing. That, to me, is a wink at the audience, and winking isn't actually cool when you're not, like, 10.

- Joss Whedon

Doing, Audience, Winking, Wink

Everything I write tends to turn into a superhero team, even if I didn't mean for it to. I always start off wanting to be solitary, because a) it's simpler, and b) that isolation is something that I relate to as a storyteller. And then no matter what, I always end up with a team.

- Joss Whedon

Superhero, Wanting, I Write, Simpler

An audience who watches my shows knows who I am, knows that right when they think I'm going to make a joke, I'm going to blow something up, or during the worst peril, I'm going to have someone give someone a kiss - it's just going to happen.

- Joss Whedon

Kiss, Shows, Peril, Joke

'The Dark Knight,' for me, has the same problem that every other 'Batman' movie has. It's not about Batman. I think Heath Ledger is just phenomenal and the character of the Joker is beautifully written. He has a particular philosophy that he carries throughout the movie. He has one of the best bad guy schemes.

- Joss Whedon

Movie, Other, I Think, Knight

The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn't look like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, he's going to keep digging, he's going to keep trying to do right and make up for what's gone before, just because that's who he is.

- Joss Whedon

Hero, Before, About, End Of The Tunnel

I always believe in just have as much fun as you can so that when you're in the part that you hate, there's a light at the end of the tunnel, that you're close to finished.

- Joss Whedon

Always, Part, Finished, End Of The Tunnel

I do have screenplays I've written that never saw the light of day, but I don't usually go back to them. When I've told a story, I want to tell another story.

- Joss Whedon

Want, Tell, Another, Screenplays

Shakespeare's language does not require a British accent. It requires a facility with language, and that's all.

- Joss Whedon

Language, Does, Shakespeare, Accent

I hate it when people talk about Buffy as being campy... I hate camp, I don't enjoy dumb TV. I believe Aaron Spelling has single-handedly lowered SAT scores.

- Joss Whedon

Spelling, TV, Scores, None

When I was a kid, maybe 11, I remember saying, 'When I grow up I wanna have enough money to buy a really cool car, because I won't.'

- Joss Whedon

Grow, I Remember, Maybe, Enough Money

I'm a very hard-line, angry atheist. Yet I am fascinated by the concept of devotion.

- Joss Whedon

I Am, Concept, Very, Hard-Line

I go to movies expecting to have a whole experience. If I want a movie that doesn't end, I'll go to a French movie. That's a betrayal of trust to me. A movie has to be complete within itself; it can't just build off the first one or play variations.

- Joss Whedon

Trust, Play, Movie, Variations

I don't tend to write straight dramas where real life just impinges. But because I don't, when I do, it is very interesting to slap people in the face with just an absolute of life.

- Joss Whedon

Interesting, Real, Very, Dramas

I have a pathological fear of confrontation. I'm working on that.

- Joss Whedon

Fear, Working, Confrontation, Pathological

Kristen Stewart is kind of captivating; she can just stare at stuff and it works because I still want to watch it.

- Joss Whedon

Kind, Still, Works, Captivating

Everybody who labels themselves a 'nerd' isn't some giant person locked in a cubbyhole who's never seen the opposite sex. Especially with the way the Internet is now, I think that definition is getting a little more diffuse.

- Joss Whedon

Some, Everybody, I Think, Locked

Casting is storytelling.

- Joss Whedon

Storytelling, Casting

I'm a very gentle man, not unlike Gandhi.

- Joss Whedon

Gentle, Very, Unlike, Gandhi

Every kid who hated grownups becomes a grownup. Well, except the ones who died.

- Joss Whedon

Kid, Well, Grownup, Grownups

The master plan does not have a master plan. Television ultimately finds itself, and after it finds itself, it finds itself changing.

- Joss Whedon

Itself, Finds, Does, Master Plan

That's the great thing about 'The West Wing:' you really felt like you were in the thick of it.

- Joss Whedon

Like, About, Felt, West Wing

The problem for me is that 'Watchmen,' one of the great comics of all time, is a look at superheroes that has gone beyond the concept of or necessity for superheroes.

- Joss Whedon

Great, Concept, Comics, Watchmen

Absolutely eat dessert first. The thing that you want to do the most, do that.

- Joss Whedon

Want, Most, Absolutely, Dessert

What I do like is hiking. And that's what filmmaking is. It's a hike. It's challenging and exhausting, and you don't know what the terrain is going to be or necessarily even which direction you're going in... but it sure is beautiful.

- Joss Whedon

Like, Sure, Which, Hike

Loneliness is about the scariest thing out there.

- Joss Whedon

Loneliness, About, Thing, Scariest

A writer is supposed to have anonymity.

- Joss Whedon

Writer, Supposed, Anonymity

I've never met a well-adjusted person. It's weird.

- Joss Whedon

Weird, Never, Person, Well-Adjusted

Movies were always the goal, but I had a lot of goals. Twelve-year-old me wanted to do everything: act and sing and paint and dance.

- Joss Whedon

Goal, Paint, Always, Goals

For me, the act of telling the story and showing it to somebody is almost gravy.

- Joss Whedon

Act, Telling, Almost, Gravy

Personally, the NSA collecting data on me freaks me out. It totally freaks me out. And yet I'm from the generation that wants to put a GPS in their kids so I always know where they are.

- Joss Whedon

Generation, Data, Always, Freaks

I've seen plenty of films where the projector broke. The problems that we have in the digital age are exactly the same as we had. Instead of, 'There's a hair in the gate,' it's, 'The computer ate the footage.' There will always be things like that going on. Nothing is perfect.

- Joss Whedon

Perfect, Had, Digital Age, Gate

I'm a science fiction geek from birth - that's just who I am.

- Joss Whedon

Birth, Fiction, Am, Science Fiction

Science fiction is like a blender - you can put in any historical experience and take influences from everything you see, read or experience.

- Joss Whedon

Fiction, Like, Read, Science Fiction

Especially, I think, living in any fantasy or science fiction world means really understanding what you're seeing and reading really densely on a level that a lot of people don't bother to read.

- Joss Whedon

Think, I Think, Means, Science Fiction

My mom is a teacher, my dad was a writer for television, his dad was a writer for television, and combining those two has been sort of the goal of my life.

- Joss Whedon

Goal, My Life, Been, Combining

I love a straightforward character. I am the guy who loves Cyclops on the 'X-Men', because he is square.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Straightforward, Loves, X-Men

Wonder Woman isn't Spider-man or Batman. She doesn't have a town, she has a world. That was more interesting to me than a kind of contained, rote superhero franchise.

- Joss Whedon

Woman, Town, Franchise, Spider-Man

I think there's a possibility that comic book movies are getting a tiny bit better on the one hand because they're no longer made by executives, who are, you know, ninety-year-old bald tailors with cigars, going, 'The kids love this!'

- Joss Whedon

Love, Book, I Think, Comic Book

A lot of people who saw 'The Avengers' didn't read comic books, don't like comic book movies, and enjoyed it. That was huge for me.

- Joss Whedon

Like, Comic Books, Read, Comic Book

There's a reason Tony Stark makes fun of 'Thor,' and mentions 'Shakespeare' in the park in 'The Avengers.' It's great to play high drama and comedy alongside a modern story.

- Joss Whedon

Play, Reason, Thor, Avengers

Something like 'Much Ado' happens, and even 'Avengers' happens because of the years of building connections and doing the work and proving yourself.

- Joss Whedon

Work, Doing, Like, Avengers

Making 'The Avengers' was very important to me, but it was also extremely arduous. I missed my friends and I missed my home, so I decided to throw them all on camera, which is the only way I seem to know to relate to people.

- Joss Whedon

Seem, Very, Decided, Avengers

I loved working with 'The Avengers' cast and we had a great time, but it was a job, and they had other commitments during that job, so they would go off and do other things.

- Joss Whedon

Go, Other, Commitments, Avengers

Most of the dialogue in 'Speed' is mine, and a bunch of the characters. That was actually pretty much a good experience. I have quibbles. I also have the only poster left with my name still on it. Getting arbitrated off the credits was un-fun.

- Joss Whedon

Good, Experience, Speed, Poster

My mom and dad were divorced, and although they got along very well, my mom thought American television was reprehensible, so I was raised on the BBC. I kind of agreed with her. We watched American news, though.

- Joss Whedon

Thought, Very, Dad, Divorced

I like Victorian children's novels extremely a lot. If I would say I collect anything, that's what I'll hunt for now and again at old book stores.

- Joss Whedon

Old, Like, Hunt, Novels

You know, I always was an early morning or late night writer. Early morning was my favorite; late night was because you had a deadline. And at four in the morning you make up some of your most absurd jokes.

- Joss Whedon

Some, Had, Your, Deadline

I always was an early-morning or late-night writer. Early morning was my favorite; late night was because you had a deadline. And at four in the morning, you make up some of your most absurd jokes.

- Joss Whedon

Some, Had, Your, Deadline

The networks have a particular agenda, a particular model and structure. It doesn't have anything to do with content. This is not a dis on them - they are a business model, run by business people.

- Joss Whedon

Business, Them, Particular, Business People

People used to laugh that academics would study Disney movies. There's nothing more important for academics to study, because they shape the minds of our children possibly more than any single thing.

- Joss Whedon

Study, Shape, Single Thing, Possibly

Why anybody gets my sense of humor I never know, but I do know that when they do, I keep them as close as I possibly can.

- Joss Whedon

Sense Of Humor, Why, Anybody, Possibly

Every time you work on a project, it's a little vacation from the project you're working on the other 23 hours. That's the thing - it replenishes you to do something else.

- Joss Whedon

Work, Other, Hours, Every Time

You learn something every time you make a mistake.

- Joss Whedon

Time, Mistake, Learn, Every Time

I love to write. I love it. I mean there's nothin in the world I like better, and that includes sex, probably because I'm so very bad at it.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Bad, Very, Nothin

There are many films and TV shows I make where people find themselves in fantastical situations; as often as possible, their reactions to it are very normal.

- Joss Whedon

Normal, Very, Films, Reactions

I'll always protect what I'm working on. Which is why more and more of it is stuff only I can ruin.

- Joss Whedon

More, Always, Which, Ruin

I've been doing Shakespeare readings with my friends for years.

- Joss Whedon

Doing, Been, Shakespeare, Readings

There's not going to be a 'Buffy' season nine on television.

- Joss Whedon

Television, Going, Nine, Season

When you're making a film, you have an obligation to fill the frame with life.

- Joss Whedon

Film, Obligation, Making, Frame

You don't buy a Picasso because you love the frame.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Because, Buy, Frame

Never sit at a table you can't walk away from.

- Joss Whedon

Never, You, Away, Table

I'm never interested in movies where you don't care about the people you're watching, and that's my biggest quibble about horror, that kids have gotten stupider and stupider.

- Joss Whedon

Horror, About, Gotten, Stupider

There was a time before I felt I was a real writer, when I was a yarn spinner and I just wanted to tell story until it was over. But then there came a time where I was like, 'No, I want to understand something through writing this that I might have not understood before. I want people to come away with something to think about.'

- Joss Whedon

Through, Away, Before, Understood

I loved teaching and I did a lot of work as a teacher's assistant in college, and my favorite experience was basically getting a laugh from a bunch of people because they had just understood something.

- Joss Whedon

Work, College, Assistant, Understood

There are two things that I cannot resist: one is musicals and the other is a spaceship in trouble. But I am smart enough not to combine the two things.

- Joss Whedon

Enough, Other, Resist, Combine

When I created Buffy, I wanted to create a female icon, but I also wanted to be very careful to surround her with men that not only have no problem with the idea of a female leader, but were in fact engaged and even attracted to the idea.

- Joss Whedon

Leader, Engaged, Very, Surround

Sarah Michelle Gellar's made some really good choices. She's had some bad breaks. She goes with the independent, interesting young filmmakers and then they get slammed, like 'Southland Tales.' I'm proud of what she's trying to do. It's hard.

- Joss Whedon

Bad, Some, Young Filmmakers, Tales

A great scientist is more open to a new idea than almost anybody.

- Joss Whedon

New, Almost, New Idea, Open

All of the most important lessons about writing I learned from my father. He never set out to teach me anything, it would just be something he said casually in conversation.

- Joss Whedon

Father, Out, About, Conversation

'The Sixth Sense' is fine the second time around, but honestly, the first time around, it's dazzling.

- Joss Whedon

Fine, Sixth, Honestly, Dazzling

We need narrative; it feeds us in a particular way, and deconstructing it completely before you've actually experienced it, I think it leaves us unfed.

- Joss Whedon

Think, Need, Particular Way, Feeds

The two things that matter the most to me: emotional resonance and rocket launchers. Party of Five, a brilliant show, and often made me cry uncontrollably, suffered ultimately from a lack of rocket launchers.

- Joss Whedon

Emotional, Brilliant, Made, Party

I don't want the giant ego. I don't want to become Kevin Costner, singing on the soundtrack to The Postman.

- Joss Whedon

Soundtrack, Kevin, Costner, None

I designed 'Buffy' to be an icon, to be an emotional experience, to be loved in a way that other shows can't be loved. Because it's about adolescence, which is the most important thing people go through in their development, becoming an adult.

- Joss Whedon

Through, Other, Becoming, Designed

I never tire of the heroes that I knew growing up. The fun is not that much different from doing a television show: You're stuck with a certain set of rules, and then, rather than trying to break them, it's just trying to peel away and see what's underneath them. That to me is really fun.

- Joss Whedon

Doing, Away, Rather, Underneath

I don't understand why or how anyone ever pulled off the whole idea of 'women are inferior.'

- Joss Whedon

Idea, Inferior, Pulled, Women Are

I've often said there's no such thing as a track record in TV. I seen people who created things much more successful than mine treated like dirt.

- Joss Whedon

Treated, TV, Mine, Track Record

I never tire of the heroes that I knew growing up.

- Joss Whedon

Growing Up, Growing, Never, Tire

TV does a thing that film can never do. It takes you to a place that no novel written after the late 19th century can. You can just go through people's lives; it's like a marriage.

- Joss Whedon

Through, TV, Lives, Novel

I think it's always important for academics to study popular culture, even if the thing they are studying is idiotic. If it's successful or made a dent in culture, then it is worthy of study to find out why.

- Joss Whedon

Worthy, Study, I Think, Dent

Oddly enough, I never studied writing. I studied almost everything except writing.

- Joss Whedon

Never, Almost Everything, Oddly

I always tend to think just left of center, to remove myself from the world by one step. It is very freeing, and it's a particular way of coming at stories and looking at them that I find the most beautiful stuff that I know comes from, ultimately.

- Joss Whedon

Very, Particular Way, Tend, Remove

Limitations are something that I latch onto - like working in genre, or if you're writing TV, there are act breaks, there's a length of time it's supposed to be. The restrictions of budget and sets can be really useful. When you can have everything, it's very hard to make things feel real and lived in.

- Joss Whedon

Feel, Very, TV, Budget

I still believe that even though 'The Empire Strikes Back' is better in innumerable ways than 'Star Wars,' 'Star Wars' wins.

- Joss Whedon

Still, Wins, Though, Empire

Writers are completely out of touch with reality. Writers are a crazy person. We create conflict - for a living. We do this all the time, sometimes on a weekly basis; we create horrible, incredible circumstances and then figure a way out of them. That's what we do.

- Joss Whedon

Sometimes, Out, Weekly, Conflict

I don't have a ton of enemies. I get along with people pretty well when I'm not annoying them to death.

- Joss Whedon

Death, Enemies, Pretty, Annoying

The only way to real mature love is to get past the tropes of what we consider 'romance.'

- Joss Whedon

Love, Mature, Romance, Love Is

I didn't study writing. I didn't write anything substantial until I got to California.

- Joss Whedon

Writing, Study, Until, Substantial

I don't have a particular ambition in any medium. I just want to keep telling stories. If somebody pays me, also good.

- Joss Whedon

Want, Stories, Telling, Pays

I just love language. I mean, I love it. I love stage directions. Any opportunity to write. I hadn't written in so long, I get very crazy and miserable. I - it's like not seeing my kids: I can't do it for very long.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Language, Very, Directions

The more you can create a structure by which people live in a fantastical situation and by which they will act, and the more you lay that out for the audience, the more they will feel at home in it.

- Joss Whedon

Audience, Will, Which, Structure

I like to think that I'm a populist entertainer, but I'm a little bit idiosyncratic, and sometimes the networks wouldn't really roll with that.

- Joss Whedon

Think, Sometimes, Like, Populist

My favorite part of Comic-Con? The groupies.

- Joss Whedon

Comic-Con, Favorite Part, Groupies

I think everyone who makes movies should be forced to do television. Because you have to finish. You have to get it done, and there are a lot of decisions made just for the sake of making decisions. You do something because it's efficient and because it gets the story told and it connects to the audience.

- Joss Whedon

Movies, I Think, Forced, Making Decisions

The misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who's confronted with it.

- Joss Whedon

Human Condition, Sucking, Confronted

As far as I am concerned, the first episode of Buffy was the beginning of my career. It was the first time I told a story from start to finish the way I wanted.

- Joss Whedon

Beginning, Career, Concerned, As Far As

Every vampire fiction reinvents vampires to its own needs. You take what you want.

- Joss Whedon

Fiction, Needs, Take, Vampire

Buffy loves Angel. He loves her. And I love Ho Hos.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Her, I Love, Buffy

'Buffy' is about growing up. 'Angel' is really about already having grown up, dealing with what you've done, and redemption.

- Joss Whedon

Dealing, About, Having, Buffy

The Internet community started forming right when 'Buffy' started airing, and the notion of a show creator being anything other than a name people recognize on the screen was completely new.

- Joss Whedon

New, Creator, Forming, Buffy

The thing with the comics is that you have license to go down every alley your brain can think of.

- Joss Whedon

Think, Go, Comics, License

I love fantasy. I love horror. I love musicals. Whatever doesn't really happen in life is what I'm interested in. As a way of commenting on everything that does happen in life, because ultimately the only thing I'm really interested in is people.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Fantasy, Happen, Musicals

The musicals that I love on stage are generally meant for the stage.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Meant, I Love, Musicals

What I love most about icons is finding out what's behind them, exploring the price of their power.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Behind, About, Icons

Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck.

- Joss Whedon

Remember, Always, Unless, Suck

Always be yourself... unless you suck.

- Joss Whedon

Yourself, Always, Unless, Suck

It's not any huge secret that I'm an atheist.

- Joss Whedon

Secret, Huge, Any, Atheist

I get recognized just often enough to keep my ego bouncing along, but not so much that I can't go places.

- Joss Whedon

Go, Often, Recognized, Bouncing

My life has included a study of Shakespeare and to me it's very natural, but I know that it's not always accessible to other people.

- Joss Whedon

My Life, Always, Very, Included

I think to an extent every human being needs to be redeemed somewhat or at least needs to look at themselves and say, 'I've made mistakes, I'm off course, I need to change.' Which is probably the hardest thing for a human being to do, and maybe that's why it interests me so.

- Joss Whedon

Maybe, I Think, Extent, Redeemed

I did my English A level in England, and we studied Shakespeare. I had great, great high school teachers, and we parsed the text within an inch of its life.

- Joss Whedon

England, Level, Within, Shakespeare

Those of us who write spend our entire lives in an endless English class.

- Joss Whedon

Lives, Entire Lives, Spend, Class

I always want to make sure I'm telling a story about people that I care about.

- Joss Whedon

Always, Sure, Telling, I Care

I spent a ton of time alone. I was raised by a feminist; I had a terrifying father and oppressively scary and mean brothers. We had a farm. The rule was between breakfast and lunch you weren't allowed to make a sound.

- Joss Whedon

Lunch, Brothers, Terrifying, Farm

My absolute favorite part of Comic-Con is seeing, like, a 'Mass Effect' guy hanging out with a 'Sailor Moon,' and they're just having a great time.

- Joss Whedon

Like, Favorite Part, Having, Hanging

The secret to multitasking is that it isn't actually multitasking. It's just extreme focus and organization.

- Joss Whedon

Organization, Actually, Extreme

I have an obligation to do press, but I don't have an obligation to stay out dancing until 3 A.M.

- Joss Whedon

Dancing, Obligation, Until, Press

In TV, there's so much compromise, it does start to grate a bit. But if you're a writer or an actor, it really is the place to be.

- Joss Whedon

Start, TV, Bit, Compromise

I've been to two festivals in my life, and I've never been to Toronto. I haven't really been making festival movies. This is new territory for me.

- Joss Whedon

My Life, New, Been, Territory

The way a musical can make us feel is unlike anything else, in song and particularly in dance. I think people fly through plate-glass windows when they get shot because movies don't have dance scenes any more. This is what we do instead.

- Joss Whedon

Through, Feel, I Think, Scenes

It's only recently women got to be action heroes on TV. Progress is slow, and often non-existent. There's plenty of cool comics with female characters... But all it takes is one Catwoman to set the cause back a decade.

- Joss Whedon

Decade, TV, Comics, Female

I like horror; I like comedy; I like drama; I like action; I like female heroes.

- Joss Whedon

Heroes, Drama, Horror, Female

I was raised by a hardcore feminist.

- Joss Whedon

I Was Raised, Hardcore, Feminist

I don't think I'm a celebrity. Maybe I'm a cult figure?

- Joss Whedon

Think, Celebrity, Figure, Cult

I love TV in a way that I don't love any other medium.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Other, TV, Medium

I was never a games night guy, but at some point, social interaction starts to freak me out. So when there's a point, it's easier for me to see the people I love and hang out and try to have fun.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Some, Hang, Easier

The fact is some people really love my work, some people not so much, but at the end of the day, I don't want anybody coming out of the movie thinking about me.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Fact, Some, Some People

I respect television in a way that some people who came out of film might not.

- Joss Whedon

Television, Some, Might, Some People

That title, is one of the things I fought for. A lot of people said 'But it's stupid, and it's the title of a comedy movie, and people won't take it seriously,' and I'm sure there are some people who still don't. But for the most part, people do see that we really have a quality show.

- Joss Whedon

Stupid, Some, Movie, Some People

Every writer loves the idea of being able to go in and fix a problem and then leave without obligation. It's fun!

- Joss Whedon

Go, Idea, Loves, Obligation

I had older brothers, and I don't think there's anything worse than an older brother. They pretty much told me the end of everything they got to see before I did.

- Joss Whedon

Think, Pretty, Older Brother, Older

I am a fan of sequels even though they are inevitably awful.

- Joss Whedon

I Am, Fan, Sequels, Inevitably

I think 'Batman Begins' is certainly my favorite Batman movie I've seen.

- Joss Whedon

Think, Begins, Certainly, Batman

I would like to have as much going on as other people do, but my problem is I get so attached to things, and there's my kids, and I need my sleep, and then there's being married - gotta check in on that, too.

- Joss Whedon

Other, Like, Going, Attached

I am a great believer in found families and I'm not a great believer in blood.

- Joss Whedon

I Am, Believer, Found, Families

I'm very much more interested in the created family than I am in actual families.

- Joss Whedon

More, Very, Actual, Families

I can do web, comic books, macrame, art.

- Joss Whedon

Art, Books, Comic Books, Comic

I kept telling my mom that reading comic books would pay off.

- Joss Whedon

Telling, Books, Comic Books, Comic

Actors wait tables, directors work at video stores.

- Joss Whedon

Work, Wait, Stores, Tables

I've been in this business for a long while, but it's not like I've been waiting tables. Since I started writing, I've only worked on things that I love. I've had a lot of heartbreak, but you don't become an artist and not expect that.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Heartbreak, Been, Tables

I used to write chronologically when I started, from beginning to end. Eventually I went, 'That's absurd; my heart is in this one scene, therefore I must follow it.'

- Joss Whedon

Beginning, Used, Started, Therefore

My dad would go to work every day and write in a room full of funny people. He enjoyed it. I know great writers who find the process agonising but to me, writing has always been sheer joy.

- Joss Whedon

Every Day, Been, Dad, Sheer

I do listen to music. Movie scores, exclusively, because it's all about mood and nonspecificity. I love the way modern movie scoring is all about nonspecificity. You know, if I shuffled the tracks from 'Inception,' I challenge you to tell me which is which.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Mood, Movie, Tracks

I don't write just to be clever. But sometimes I do. And if you don't have an understanding of the language, then the way in which it's bent doesn't actually register. It's the old you-gotta-paint-like-them-before-you-can-paint-like-you thing.

- Joss Whedon

Sometimes, Old, Which, Bent

I have abused language. I love it, and I abuse it... I don't write just to be clever. But sometimes I do. And if you don't have an understanding of the language, then the way in which it's bent doesn't actually register.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Abuse, Which, Bent

We are, all of us, incoherent text, and just knowing that - knowing that no matter how much you say, 'I am this' and part of you is not that - means that you can say it.

- Joss Whedon

Say, Part, Means, Text

TV's like whitewater rafting: Without rocks, there wouldn't be rapids, and it wouldn't be as much fun.

- Joss Whedon

Like, Without, TV, Rocks

I've had so much success. I had something to say, I got to say it, people heard it, and they agreed. That's every artist's dream. That's the brass ring.

- Joss Whedon

Artist, Ring, Had, Heard

I never give up on anything, because you come back around, and suddenly the thing you thought you'd never do is relevant.

- Joss Whedon

Thought, Give, Back, Suddenly

Twelve-year-old me wanted to do everything: act and sing and paint and dance.

- Joss Whedon

Me, Act, Wanted, Dance

I didn't watch a lot of American television growing up. I just liked to read a lot and watch movies - movies, movies, and more movies. My family used to make fun of me because I'd like every movie I saw.

- Joss Whedon

American, Movie, Used, Growing Up

People always say I write a lot of pop culture references. Can somebody please count the pop culture references in 'Firefly?' Because I don't know how to put this to you, but there was one. I referenced The Beatles in the pilot.

- Joss Whedon

References, I Write, Put, Pop Culture

If somebody comes up to me, it's because they're moved by something I'm moved by. I've never taken a job I didn't love... So when somebody's coming up to me, or they're writing, they're in the same space I am in.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Space, Moved, Taken

I don't like uncertainty. I don't play poker. I don't like bluffing.

- Joss Whedon

Uncertainty, Play, Like, Poker

I also don't trust Caribou anymore. They're out there, on the tundra, waiting... Something's going down. I'm right about this.

- Joss Whedon

Trust, Waiting, Going, Anymore

Ultimately what I end up writing about is helplessness and the flipside of that, empowerment.

- Joss Whedon

Writing, End, About, Empowerment

Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women.

- Joss Whedon

Earth, Need, Like, Gravity

You can't be a storyteller and a speechwriter at the same time.

- Joss Whedon

Time, Same, Same Time, Storyteller

If you try to multitask in the classic sense of doing two things at once, what you end up doing is quasi-tasking. It's like being with children. You have to give it your full attention for however much time you have, and then you have to give something else your full attention.

- Joss Whedon

Doing, However, Your, Attention

I tend to tell stories that have a lot of momentum; it's not like 'and then months later...' I like things where the momentum of one action rolls into the next one so everything is the sum of that.

- Joss Whedon

Next, Stories, Months, Action

Writers are completely out of touch with reality.

- Joss Whedon

Reality, Touch, Out, Writers

Running a TV show is always running a TV show; it's never not running a TV show.

- Joss Whedon

Never, Running, Always, TV Show

I love all genres. The only thing I get stymied by is the Family Drama. I don't necessarily know how to approach that.

- Joss Whedon

Love, The Only Thing, Necessarily

There are two things that interest me - and they're both power, ultimately. One is not having it and one is abusing it.

- Joss Whedon

Interest, Things, Having, Ultimately

I was a little bit ashamed of American TV because I thought, 'None of the shows my father works on are as funny as my father.'

- Joss Whedon

Ashamed, TV, Works, Little Bit

I respect the rules of TV, the rules of keeping things commercial and interesting and pop-y and fun.

- Joss Whedon

Interesting, TV, Keeping, Commercial

I don't believe in creating exclusionary art.

- Joss Whedon

Art, Believe, Creating

I eat 'The Walking Dead' like its made of brains. Can't even watch the show, I love the book so much.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Like, Made, Brains

The people who feel the most strongly about something will turn on you the most vociferously if they feel you've let them down.

- Joss Whedon

Will, Feel, About, Strongly

I was very proud of my father, and I admired him, but I always thought he was more interesting than the shows he was working on.

- Joss Whedon

Proud, Always, Very, Admired

Horror movies don't exist unless you go and see them, and people always will.

- Joss Whedon

Will, Go, Always, Horror

I love a good romantic comedy.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Romantic, I Love, Comedy

On one level, I must never lose touch with my audience. But I must, at some point, stop trying to get everybody to like me, and be true to the thing I think I need to say.

- Joss Whedon

Think, Audience, Some, Touch

Who is to say who is the villain and who is the hero? Probably the dictionary.

- Joss Whedon

Hero, Villain, Say, Dictionary

You know, the thing that I do to waste time is think of things I want to make. That's how my mind is employed.

- Joss Whedon

Mind, Think, Waste, Waste Time

I never write anything without humor, just because I like humor, but at the same time, it is a way for anything fantastical to become relatable.

- Joss Whedon

Like, Without, Same Time, Just Because

I usually write things in my head before I ever write them down. When I write it out, usually I've already figured out what it is I'm trying to do.

- Joss Whedon

Before, I Write, Them, Figured

I think it's not inaccurate to say that I had a perfectly happy childhood during which I was very unhappy.

- Joss Whedon

Think, Very, Which, Perfectly

When people say to me, 'Why are you so good at writing at women?' I say, 'Why isn't everybody?'

- Joss Whedon

Why, Say, Everybody, People Say

I'm not big on regret; I don't spend a lot of time on it.

- Joss Whedon

Big, Lot, Spend, Regret

Part of making TV is the process - you just have to churn it out.

- Joss Whedon

Process, Making, Part, TV

Soon, I will be 'King of all Hollywoodland.'

- Joss Whedon

King, Will, Soon

I never wanted to take a job because I needed money, and I never have.

- Joss Whedon

Never, Wanted, Take, Needed

Remember to always be yourself.

- Joss Whedon

Yourself, Remember, Always, Be Yourself

There's a lot of anger in the Twitter-verse, as I've discovered. But there's a lot of love.

- Joss Whedon

Love, Anger, Lot, Discovered

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