Most of us live in artificial environments and then we go to work in artificial environments and the world becomes something that you see through a window. Alan Ball More Quotes by Alan Ball More Quotes From Alan Ball I felt pride, wonderful pride, when I was captain. It was an honour to take over from Labby. Anybody who has ever captained a big club, which Everton are, will tell you it's a great honour. Alan Ball captains clubs pride Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once and it's too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst. Alan Ball wisdom heart beauty It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about. Alan Ball realizing wonder beauty Life is suffering. We have desires and expectations and egos, and we compare the reality we have, which is miraculous and wondrous, with this reality we desire. That somehow distances us from actually taking part fully with the reality we do have, and that creates suffering. For me, the thing that I love is that it's all about the present moment. Alan Ball distance love-is reality That's the day I realized that there was this entire life behind things, and this incredibly benevolent force that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it, and my heart is going to cave in. Alan Ball heart beauty life I'd seen 'Interview with A Vampire' and saw Dracula movies growing up, but I never thought, 'I love vampires; I have to do a show about vampires.' Alan Ball vampire saws growing-up I'm from the South, so while I personally find it impossible to live there, I still have a fondness for it as a geographical region. Alan Ball regions stills impossible I would say try to tell stories that you care about as opposed to stories that you think will sell. Alan Ball stories trying thinking I certainly believe that what we perceive as humans is just the tip of the iceberg. I don't necessarily believe in vampires or werewolves or that kind of thing, but I believe there is definitely a realm we don't necessarily have access to. Alan Ball tip-of-the-iceberg vampire believe In my own life, I think legends of supernatural, mythic things are really just a manifestation of the collective unconscious. So I don't really get freaked out. I mean certainly, you read about things people did to each other in the pursuit of some mystical or occult goal, and it's horrifying. But that's just human nature. Alan Ball collective-unconscious mean thinking I think the world is a place for oddballs and freaks. I'm only interested in oddballs and freaks as characters. Alan Ball character world thinking I think sexuality is a window into someone's soul. Alan Ball soul window thinking There is a fetishization of victimization in our culture. And I just am not interested in victimhood. Alan Ball victimhood not-interested culture We live in a patriarchal culture. It's okay for women to be objectified but not for men. Alan Ball okay men culture I guess in America we're so sold on this ideal of the perfect, well-adjusted family that is able to confront any conflict and, with true love and understanding, work things through. I'm sure they do exist, but I never knew any of them. Alan Ball understanding perfect america I was conveniently bisexual for a long time, and then I went, 'Come on, who am I kidding?' And I have to say, it was the single biggest step I took toward emotional well-being, to stop feeling like I had to hide who I am. Alan Ball bisexual emotional who-i-am Racism is ridiculous no matter where it's coming from. Alan Ball ridiculous racism matter Not everything is going to be successful. To strive for that is really naive. You just do the best you can do. Alan Ball strive successful can-do My own belief is that people can come back from anything. It doesn't mean that it won't come at a huge cost. Alan Ball cost mean people I'm 53. I don't care about high school students. I find them irritating and uninformed. Alan Ball care students school