I never turn down a drink. Among friends it’s always appropriate. A man is only a man as they say, but brandy is still brandy. You’ll find that in the Talmud too.

Each Jew must either give or take tzedakah [charity] for Passover.

Barking dogs don't bite, but they themselves don't know it.

The rich swell up with pride, the poor from hunger.

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.

No matter how bad things get, you got to go on living, even if it kills you.

To make people laugh was almost a sickness with me.