Rhetoric does not get you anywhere, because Hitler and Mussolini are just as good at rhetoric. But if you can bring these people down with comedy, they stand no chance.

I've been accused of vulgarity. I say that's bullshit.

When you come to Germany as a Jew you have an uneasy feeling, but I've always felt okay in Berlin.

Look at Jewish history. Unrelieved lamenting would be intolerable. So for every ten Jews beating their breasts, God designated one to be crazy and amuse the breast-beaters. By the time I was five I knew I was that one.

I'm still a horse that can run. I may not be able to win the Derby, but what do you do when you retire? People retire and they vegetate. They go away and they dry up.

We want to get people laughing; we don't want to offend anybody.

Making a movie is like making an ocean voyage, and the script is your ship.