He who takes offense when offense was not intended is a fool, yet he who takes offense when offense is intended is an even greater fool for he has succumbed to the will of his adversary.
I don't like to be provocative for the sake of being provocative.
If I know my showboating bothers you, I'll keep doing it. If playing with your mind is part of the arsenal, and I know it works, then I'm going to continue doing it.
What I do as an art form is try to make people feel good and if I do try to make them feel bad, it's for a reason. There's something I am trying to say.
'Toast' is based on a bunch of actors but especially one guy. I worked with him on a film and realise that if I mentioned any actor who was around his age but more successful, it would drive him insane. So from sheer devilment, I'd do it on purpose.
We're not trying to shock people with our image.
It's not like we set out to antagonize the audience in any way. We're just presenting our music; it's really much more innocent.
Sometimes the names were humiliating, deliberately so. Somebody would pick out your flaw. If you were little, they would call you Shorty. And if you were angry, they would call you the Devil.
'Funny Games' was conceived as a provocation. My other films are different. If people feel my other films are, or respond to them as provocation, then that's quite different. 'Funny Games' is the only one of mine where my intention was to provoke the audience.
I make enemies deliberately. They are the sauce piquante to my dish of life.
I like the idea that my audience doesn't see what I do as controversial.
Enraging liberals is simply one of the more enjoyable side effects of my wisdom.
I get off on pushing people's buttons sometimes.
As a matter of fact we both are [being offensive]; and the only difference between us is that I am trying to be, and you can't help it.
