I am an optimist, unrepentant and militant. After all, in order not to be a fool an optimist must know how sad a place the world can be. It is only the pessimist who finds this out anew every day.

At the age of four with paper hats and wooden swords we're all Generals. Only some of us never grow out of it.

The stupidity of a stupid man is exercised in a restricted field; the stupidity of an intelligent man has a much wider diffusion, and a far greater effect, aided as it is by the element of surprise.

Basically I'm a very serious person, but I think the form it takes with me is comedy. I see the amusing side of all potentially pompous situations.

It's wrong to flog a man. It's against his being a man.

The only reason I made a commercial for American Express was to pay for my American Express bill.

If you're going to be a prisoner of your own mind, the least you can do is make sure it's well furnished.