It is probably not a sort that is massively appealing to the American public. As a rule, we prefer it when our celebrity philanthropists make us feel warm and sweet about giving, and being warm and sweet is not Penn's forte. Still, it would be a pity if the spikiness of Penn's manners were allowed to obscure the worth of his deeds. He is never going to have the creamy charm of a George Clooney or the unflappable good spirits of a Brad Pitt.
But it is quite possible that he will end up doing more palpable good in the world than either of those admirable men.
- Sean Penn, The Accidental Activist