Anyway, I lived on the streets and did pretty good until I got caught stealing, what was it? I kicked in a restaurant window, went in and took all the food that I wanted, and while coming out I was grabbed.

My father took me back home, back to Greenwich Village, and he thought by taking me out of the orphanage he'd be out of the World War too. But no way - they got him anyway. He went in the Navy and then I lived on the streets.

I learned life were no dream I learned truth deceived Man is not God Life is a century Death an instant

If you have a choice of two things and can't decide, take both.

I moved up over Lower East Side and I was adopted by eight foster parents; I lived all over New York City with these parents, man, till I was about ten years old.

The fall of man stands a lie before Beethoven, a truth before Hitler.

I remember the people I knew in prison; I was very fortunate to know them - they came from 1910, 1920, 1930.