I refuse to do shows that are narrowly constructed, that appeal to only one sentiment. I do a lot of Jewish material in front of non-Jews and a lot of non-Jewish material in front of Jews on the simple theory that the non-Jews are entitled to a glimpse of a Jewish world and the Jews are entitled to a glimpse of the world.

All too often arrogance accompanies strength, and we must never assume that justice is on the side of the strong. The use of power must always be accompanied by moral choice.

On the stage you're there, it's live. There's a beginning, a middle, an end. When something is funny you hear it right away.

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

After the advent of the written word, the masses who could not - or were not permitted to - read, were given sermons by the few who could.

I glory in the fact that a human being has multiple talents and exercises them all with a degree of integrity and artistic proficiency. That's what I do.

Epistemology is the study of knowledge. By what conduit do we know what we know?