As an artist I have an even more abiding interest in the compact between the Arts and Government.

Although I am deeply grateful to a great many people, I forgo the temptation of naming them for fear that I might slight any by omission.

What moves me is neither ethnocentric pride nor sectarian arrogance. I make no claim that Jewish culture is superior to other cultures. But it is mine.

If I have one vanity wish, it would be to direct. It's the only thing I haven't done yet that I would like to.

You always draw on your experiences with live audiences to know how to do comedy on films. You're working for a laugh that may or may not come six months later, but you're working in a vacuum at the time you are doing it.

I always sang, I always acted, I always played.

I prefer to choose which traditions to keep and which to let go.