In this life I have lived, my biggest blessings have been when they arrived unexpected, when they happened out of nowhere, when I got the call that I was offered the opportunity to be President of Cannes Jury for 2020, I was shocked, happy, surprised and proud all at the same time.

Spike Lee

I believe in destiny. But I also believe that you can’t just sit back and let destiny happen. A lot of times, an opportunity might fall into your lap, but you have to be ready for that opportunity. You can’t sit there waiting on it. A lot of times you are going to have to get out there and make it happen.

opportunity believe fall

I think black people have to be in control of their own image because film is a powerful medium. We can't just sit back and let other people define our existence.

powerful people thinking

You gotta make your own way. You gotta find a way. You gotta get it done. It's hard. It's tough. That's what I tell my students every day in class. I've been very fortunate. Some people might call me a hardhead, but I'm not going to let other people dictate to me who I should be or the stories I should tell. That doesn't register with me.

class motivational inspirational

Those that'll tell don't know, and those that know won't tell. by Spike Lee

Those that'll tell don't know, and those that know won't tell.

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.

black identity people

Don't think that because you haven't heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. I am still here, like a spirit roaming the night. Thirsty, hungry, seldom stopping to rest.

sleep night thinking

Power is knowing your past. by Spike Lee

Power is knowing your past.

experience knowing past

I may have been born yesterday, but I stayed up all night. by Spike Lee

I may have been born yesterday, but I stayed up all night.

yesterday may night

I think it is very important that films make people look at what... by Spike Lee

I think it is very important that films make people look at what they've forgotten.

important people thinking

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.

thought-provoking trying people

I think people who have faults are a lot more interesting than pe... by Spike Lee

I think people who have faults are a lot more interesting than people who are perfect.

perfect people thinking

It has been my observation that parents kill more dreams than any... by Spike Lee

It has been my observation that parents kill more dreams than anybody.

observation parent dream

When you love something it's not a job anymore. by Spike Lee

When you love something it's not a job anymore.

I give interracial couples a look. Daggers. They get uncomfortabl... by Spike Lee

I give interracial couples a look. Daggers. They get uncomfortable when they see me on the street.

couple racism giving

Everybody does what they want to do for their own specific reason... by Spike Lee

Everybody does what they want to do for their own specific reasons.

When I went to school, you had to take art, you had to play an instrument. You had to play an instrument. But it's all degraded since then. I do not know what kind of nation we are that is cutting art, music, and gym out of the public-school curriculum.

cutting art school

It gets dangerous when you start allowing people to validate your... by Spike Lee

It gets dangerous when you start allowing people to validate your work.

allowing dangerous people

We've got to turn this backward thinking around where ignorance is championed over intelligence. Young black kids being ridiculed by their peers for getting A's and speaking proper English: that's criminal.

ignorance kids thinking

I don't think my films are going to get rid of racism or prejudice. I think the best thing my films can do is provoke discussion.

prejudice racism thinking

As a people we do not need anyone else's stamp of approval. by Spike Lee

As a people we do not need anyone else's stamp of approval.

approval people needs