“I grew up in and the teachers. I think I was very lucky. I think I had a lot of social capital, and so when I found myself in this position of influence, I just - then I started to engage a bit with some of the problems in the world and realize that I could actually have an impact.” ThinkingWorldProblemFoundSocialBitsRealizingTeacherInfluencePositionGrewLuckyGrew UpImpactSocial Capital Author:Matt Damon
“If there's an idea I think is really good and I feel like I can write it, then I'll do it.” IfsThinkingFeelsWritingI CanIdeas Author:Matt Damon
“I think it's something that the citizenry needs to be vigilant about - participating in democracy, and that includes issues like what's going on and how much secrecy and transparency there should be. That's an on-going thing - in a democracy you want checks and balances and oversight, but you need a covert agency to protect the country. It's a very tricky balance and I think it changes as the world changes and I think we all need to be mindful of that.” ThinkingWorldWantNeedsShouldCountryDemocracyIssuesBalanceProtectChecksAgencySecrecyTransparencyTrickyParticipatingVigilantCitizenryOversightCovert Author:Matt Damon
“People do things in the names of good, and in the name of ideals, but the world isn't that simple. So they end up doing things that aren't necessarily good. Even if they think they're doing the right thing, but when viewed from a different perspective they can look barbaric and crazy.” PeopleIfsThinkingWorldLooksDifferentEndsNamesSimpleCrazyPerspectiveIdealsRight ThingDoing The Right ThingDifferent PerspectiveBarbaric Author:Matt Damon
“I need to know if she [Sarah Palin] thinks dinosaurs were here four thousand years ago... because she's going to have the nuclear code.” IfsThinkingKnowsNeedsYearsFourThousandYears AgoNuclearCodeThousand YearsDinosaursPalin Author:Matt Damon
“I can't think of any more important value to instill in our children than the desire to help others. I feel strongly about setting an example for them. Real problems can be solved by the next generation if we instill in them the right values.” IfsThinkingFeelsChildrenI CanImportantRealHelpingProblemDesireValuesNextGenerationsExampleOur ChildrenHelping OthersSettingSettingsNext GenerationReal ProblemsInstillSetting An ExampleImportant Values Author:Matt Damon
“Our kids are growing up with more privilege than we had; that's true for most of my friends in L.A. I don't know any actor who grew up with any particular privilege, so everyone wrestles with this. And I think, a lot of times, it's about being patient with your kids.” ThinkingKnowsKidsActorsGrowing UpGrowingParticularGrewGrew UpMy FriendsPatientPrivilege Author:Matt Damon
“I think marrying somebody who's not a celebrity, it just takes a lot of the pressure off.” ThinkingPressureMarrying Author:Matt Damon
“As somebody who makes his living in the movie business and wants to contribute to it, I think that the best chance I have of doing that is just consistently working with great directors.” ThinkingWantChanceDirectorsConsistentlyMovie Business Author:Matt Damon
“I knew very little about Rugby. But, I think it helps in terms of an American audience the game is enough like football in that it's a battle for field position and you score by running into what looks a lot like an end zone. I think in terms the nuance of the game, Americans won't get that stuff. I think in terms of the peanut butter and jelly version of what you need to know, I think it's pretty clear.” ThinkingKnowsNeedsLooksLittlesEndsEnoughHelpingRunningGamesStuffTermAudienceClearFieldsPositionFootballBattleVersionsScoreZoneRugbyPeanutsNuanceJellyPeanut ButterPeanut Butter And Jelly Author:Matt Damon
“I think Clint Eastwood is a well oiled machine. Everyone that works with him has the same reaction, "Can I stay with you?"” ThinkingWellsMachinesReactionsWell Oiled Machines Author:Matt Damon
“I think what's important for kids to know is that your decisions here on earth matter, your behavior matters and how you treat other people matters.” PeopleThinkingKnowsInspirationalChildrenImportantMatterKidsEarthDecisionBehaviorTreatsProducersYour ChildrenInteractionRaising ChildrenWhat's ImportantScreenwritersInteractingSocial InteractionInteracting With Others Author:Matt Damon
“There are people who appear in the magazines and I don't know who they are. I've never seen anything they've done and their careers are over already. They're famous for maybe 10 minutes. Real careers, I think, take a long time to unfold.” PeopleThinkingKnowsLongRealDoneCareersMinutesLong TimeMagazines Author:Matt Damon
“I'd had people say, 'You'll enjoy being famous for a week, and you'll never enjoy it again'. But I don't think I had that week. I may have been working and missed that moment.” PeopleThinkingMayHas BeensMomentsEnjoyWeekFameThat MomentBeing Famous Author:Matt Damon
“It's just better to be yourself than to try to be some version of what you think the other person wants.” ThinkingWantTryingPersonsVersionsBeing YourselfJust Being You Author:Matt Damon
“Bond is part of the system. He's an imperialist and a misogynist, and he laughs at killing people, and he sits there slugging martinis. It'll never be the same thing as this, because Bourne is a guy who is against the establishment, who is paranoid and on the run. I just think fundamentally they're just very different things.” PeopleThinkingDifferentRunningGuyLaughingKillingDifferent ThingsEstablishmentParanoidMartiniBourne Author:Matt Damon
“I think what makes a good actor's director is the same thing that makes a good director. Acting is just one of the trades necessary to make a movie.” ThinkingActorsActingDirectorsTradeJust OneGood ActorsGood Directors Author:Matt Damon
“As for poker, I've stayed away from that, even though when I was in Vegas for Ocean's Eleven, I would get accosted by these guys begging me to play. They just want to take my money. They see me, think 'actor' and see some easy money.” ThinkingWantPlayGuyActorsEasyOceanVegasElevenBeggingEasy Money Author:Matt Damon
“I think it's still hard for me to turn down work if it's really good because for so many years I was desperate to get a job and couldn't, so I think it's anathema for me to turn down work if I think it's really good.” IfsThinkingYearsKindStillsHardJobsTurnsDesperateAnathema Author:Matt Damon
“I think what makes a good actor's director is somebody who understands what I'm doing and is respectful of it, but who also has a vision and is directing me toward their vision in a way that feels productive.” ThinkingWayFeelsActorsVisionDirectorsProductiveRespectfulGood Actors Author:Matt Damon
“I'm not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Those guys walk into a room and the room changes. I think there's something more... not average, but everyman about me.” ThinkingGuyWalksRoomsAverageBradEveryman Author:Matt Damon
