When they saw me walking down the street smoking a cigar, they'd say, 'Hey, that 14-year-old kid may be going places.' Of course it's also a good prop on the stage ... When you can't think of what you're supposed to say next, you can puff on your cigar until you think of your next line.

I can't afford to die; I'd lose too much money.

When asked in his late 90s if his doctor knew he still smoked, Burns said, 'No ... he's dead.'

If you stay in the business long enough and get to be old enough, you get to be new again.

If you live to be one hundred, you've got it made. Very few people die past that age.

When I was young I was called a rugged individualist. When I was in my fifties I was considered eccentric. Here I am doing and saying the same things I did then and I'm labeled senile.

I find you have to take each day as it comes and be thankful for who's left and whatever you can still do.