Must we be put to shame by much smaller and poorer countries, by Ireland, France, Austria or Sweden, who have understood that a nation's support of its arts is a matter of both national pride and cultural survival?

I prefer to make common cause with those whose weapons are guitars, banjos, fiddles and words.

I'm exceedingly proud of being an actor, but I never recommend it to anyone.

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.

An actor is supposed to emulate life. Instead, alas, many are imitating other actors. You don't fashion your knowledge of theatre or your approach to a role on the basis of what other actors have done. This kind of thinking is a great danger, especially in dealing with TV producers who frequently say things like, 'This is a Sean Connery type.'

No movement can afford to be caught in a time warp and exist in a state of suspended animation.

For I firmly believe that Jewish life, indeed any communal life, can only be organized according to democratic principles.