Anybody who suggests that I run for governor is no friend of mine. It's a terrible position, and besides, it requires living in Albany, which is small-town life at its worst.

We're in the hands of the state legislature and God, but at the moment, the state legislature has more to say than God.

God gave me a very good hand to play over my 88 years. I have no regrets.

The knife of corruption endangered the life of New York City. The scalpel of the law is making us well again.

It's a lot more fun being a critic than being the one criticized.

Don't tell me this is a difficult problem. If it weren't difficult, it wouldn't be a problem.

The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child. But if we accept them as bona fide political refugees for that reason, doesn't it follow that people living in countries where abortion is illegal (such as Ireland and Poland) should also receive political asylum? After all, their country's policy is forcing them to give birth to unwanted children.