They say that children become men, and men become children. Many generations have grown up, become men, and gone hence.

A wise word is not a substitute for a piece of herring.

Ah, how many luxuries has the good God prepared for his Jewish children.

A kind word is no substitute for a piece of herring or a bag of oats.

This is an ugly and mean world, and only to spite it we mustn't weep. If you want to know, this is the constant source of my good spirit, of my humor. Not to cry, out of spite, only to laugh out of spite, only to laugh.

One cannot live on potatoes alone. It is said that one wants bread with potatoes. And when there's no bread, a Jew takes his stick, and goes through the village in search of business.

To make people laugh was almost a sickness with me.