Basically, you make another movie, and another, and hopefully you feel good about every picture you make. And you say, "My name is on that. I did that. It's OK". But don't get me wrong, I still get excited by it all. That, I hope, will never disappear.

I think when you're young and have that first burst of energy and make five or six pictures in a row that tell the stories of all the things in life you want to say . . . well, maybe those are the films that should have won me the Oscar. When Taxi Driver (1976) was up for Best Picture, it got three other nominations: Best Actor [Robert De Niro], Best Supporting Actress [Jodie Foster] and Best Music. But the director and writer were overlooked. I was so disappointed, I said, "You know what? That's the way it's going to be". What was I going to do, go home and cry?

It seems to me that any sensible person must see that violence does not change the world and if it does, then only temporarily.

[on Raging Bull (1980)]: [Robert De Niro] wanted to make this film. Not me. I don't understand anything about boxing. For me, it's like a physical game of chess.

Because of the movies I make, people get nervous, because they think of me as difficult and angry. I am difficult and angry, but they don't expect a sense of humor. And the only thing that gets me through is a sense of humor.

[on sports] Anything with a ball, no good.

The only person who has the right attitude about boxing in the movies for me was Buster Keaton.