Tyler Perry

“I don't like popcorn, and I think it's so annoying when people have popcorn in the theaters. That is the loudest food.”

“I'm not interested in doing 'Star Wars.' It's an amazing movie, but that's not my gift. I tell the stories that I tell that relate to the people who love what I do. That is the place and the path that I know I am supposed to be on. The minute I try and go do something else, it will be amazing to watch how quickly that don't work.”

“I'm trying to conquer swimming. I'm getting there. I've gotta conquer it. I had a fear of drowning and tunnels and flying. I started flying and got my pilot's license, so I conquered that. Now, I'm onto swimming and tunnels.”

“Don't believe the hype. I don't care how many number ones you have at the box office, I don't care how much they say you're great, don't believe it. Just stay in your lane and do what you're supposed to do.”

“Developing a good work ethic is key. Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you're a janitor or taking your first summer job, because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life.”

“I think every one of us, in life, have some sort of moment that has happened that we wish we could have done differently or that we wish could have had a different outcome.”

“I don't think the dreams die - I think that people give up. I think it gets too hard.”

“Happiness for me is totally just being at peace knowing that, everything I'm doing, God is pleased with that. It's complete peace for me.”

“Having my son has changed so much of what I dream about. It used to be about business, business, what's the next deal? What's the next movie? Now it's about him.”

“If you look at everything I do - even in 'Boo!' there's a message, and it's always 'faith, family, forgiveness.' That's the greatest gift that I've been given. I can get a message to the very people I grew up with, the millions who love what I do.”

“Forgiveness is important in families, especially when there are so many secrets that need to be healed - for the most part, every family's got them.”

“I want to own a network. I want to own a network where you can turn it on with your family all day long and get positive reinforcement.”

“My mother was truly my saving grace, because she would take me to church with her. I would see my mother smiling in the choir, and I wanted to know this God that made her so happy. If I had not had that faith in my life, I don't know where I would be right now.”

“Ever since I've been blessed with success, I've struggled a little with anonymity and even family. I've had people calling asking for money, and I have to ask them first, 'Are you working? Have you been trying to help yourself?' Then I feel like I can help.”

“The heart of who I am as a person and as a man is forgiveness, after forgiving my father for a lot of things that were done when I was child.”

“Being on the 'Alex Cross' set, and watching and learning about and paying attention to everything that was going on there, I realized, 'Here is a moment for me to learn.'”

“Everyone can relate to love, hurt, pain, learning how to forgive, needing to get over, needing the power of God in their life.”

“There are a lot of people who have dreams, goals, and hopes, but there aren't a lot who get to see them realized.”

“It's not an easy journey, to get to a place where you forgive people. But it is such a powerful place, because it frees you.”

“Tyler Perry's brand is faith, family and this whole thing that I've built, while my company, 34th Street Films, is like Disney's Touchstone. We can do anything. People don't know what to expect from me yet.”

“My family never went to a restaurant together; we never went to the movies together. Vacation, we never did that.”