I was spoiled in a very strange way as a child, because everybody told me, from the moment I was able to hear, that I was absolutely marvelous, and I never heard a discouraging word for years, you see. I didn't know what was ahead of me.

I am essentially a hack, a commercial person. If I had a hobby, I would immediately make money on it or abandon it.

Look at the real prodigies, and I look like nothing compared to them.

I have a great love and respect for religion, great love and respect for atheism. What I hate is agnosticism, people who do not choose.

My definition of success is not having things thrown at me!

When television came along, I'd already done more than 10 years of radio work and I thought everyone would want me. I sat around waiting for the phone to ring - and it didn't.

Every true artist must, in his own way, be a magician, a charlatan.