— It finally all makes sense!
This quote is from my favorite director, Paul Thomas Anderson (“Magnolia”, “Punch-Drunk Love”, “There Will be Blood”, “Boogie Nights”, etc.), in a conversation with the amazing Lars von Trier (“Dogville”, “Dancer in the Dark”, etc.).
This is where your influences are from in my opinion: that which affects you before you are able to make conscious stylistic choices.