The egg cream is psychologically the opposite of circumcision--it pleasurably reaffirms your Jewishness.

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.

Tolstoy was the most gifted writer who ever lived. It's like he stuck a pen in his heart and it didn't even go through his mind on its way to the page.

You want to be as smart as you can about being stupid.

My God, I'd love to smash into the casket of Dostoyevsky, grab that bony hand and scream at the remains, 'Well done, you god-damn genius.'

Sir, I have seen your film and it is vulgar! Madame, my film rises below vulgarity.

I don't think in terms of results at all. I think: what next insanity can I shock the world with?