When I was onstage doing the work, adrenaline killed the pain because I never hurt in front of an audience.

You may catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but you'll get them to work harder if you use a flyswatter.

I don't want to be remembered. I want the nice words when I can hear them.

I have some very personal feelings about politics, but I don't get into it because I do comedy already.

When I was a kid, I said to my father one afternoon, 'Daddy, will you take me to the zoo?' He answered, 'If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.

(The Nutty Professor) was a labor of love. It was a total film. It was the most productive, creative work of my life.

When I hit around 65, 66, I started to feel tremendous worth and incredible personal esteem. I was becoming very cognisant of my contribution to the American spirit of helping your fellow man and all of the good stuff.