There are historic situations in which refusal to defend the inheritance of a civilization, however imperfect, against tyranny and aggression may result in consequences even worse than war.

You cannot defend your design without knowing what you’re designing for.

Luxembourg was and still is today a crossroads, the place where Germany meets the rest of Europe. The country lost part of its territory to Belgium in the 1800s, and during World Wars I and II the German military overran it. Very few people have visited Luxembourg – when I went there and looked at it, I said, my God, it’s built on a rock. And within the rock they had a castle, and within the city there’s a network of tunnels so the residents could move around and defend themselves. That was of great interest to me.

“You cannot defend your design without knowing what you’re designing for.”

You cannot defend your design without knowing what you’re designing for.

So I am totally aware that when I defend the autonomy of art I’m going counter to my own development. It’s more an instinctive reaction, meant to protect the private aspect of the work, the part I am most interested in and which nowadays is at risk in our culture.

Why should we defend ourselves when we are misunderstood and misjudged? Let us leave that aside. Let us not say anything. It is so sweet to let others judge us in any way they like. O blessed silence, which gives so much peace to the soul!

I actually have to defend realism in theatre because I think TV does it badly – so corrupted by layers of bureaucrats who want to leave examination or psychology.

We enjoy freedom and the rule of law on which it depends, not because we deserve it, but because others before us put their lives on the line to defend it

In humility is the greatest freedom. As long as you have to defend the imaginary self that you think is important, you lose your peace of heart

All successful newspapers are ceaselessly querulous and bellicose. They never defend anyone or anything if they can help it if the job is forced on them, they tackle it by denouncing someone or something else.

To defend oneself against a fear is simply to insure that one will, one day, be conquered by it; fears must be faced.

She would defend herself, saying that love, no matter what else it might be, was a natural talent. She would say: You are either born knowing how, or you never know.

I would have loved to go out there and defend my title, but right now, I’m just rejoicing, and so far, this has just been an amazing experience.

If someone speaks badly of you, do not defend yourself against the accusations, but reply; “you obviously don’t know about my other vices, otherwise you would have mentioned these as well

They defend their errors as if they were defending their inheritance.