Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.

One of the first things that you learn as a stand-up is, you're the boss. It's your stage, and don't screw with me because I'll make you look bad, which I had to do, because you wind up with drunks and loud people.

I wasn't much good. When I went into the line on a fake - I would holler 'I don't have it!'

I think you should be a child for as long as you can. I have been successful for 74 years being able to do that. Don't rush into adulthood, it isn't all that much fun.

One of the first things you ever learn as a stand-up is don't show fear.

I feel more comfortable in comedy.

In today's world, you would call my father mostly unaccessible. I'm not sure that isn't true of most fathers at that time. He went through the Depression. I don't know what that would have done to my psyche.