'The Simpsons' from the very beginning was based on our memories of brash '60s sitcoms - you had a main title theme that was bombastic and grabbed your attention - and when you look at TV shows of the 1970s and '80s, things got very mild and toned down and... obsequious.

But Marge, what if we chose the wrong religion? Each week we just make God madder and madder.

On 'The Simpsons,' I will say that we definitely like to comment on what's going on in the world, and we try to be funny. If we can figure out a way of being funny about it, then we've gone part of the way of accomplishing our task.

People go into cartooning because they're shy and they're angry. That's when you're sitting in the back of a classroom drawing the teacher.

Because good writing in a TV cartoon is so rare, I think the animation on The Simpsons is often overlooked.

If people only knew how much I secretly hated them, they'd love me for holding it in.

Son, if you really want something in life, you have to work for it. Now quiet, they're about to announce the lottery numbers.