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.

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

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 tried for a while to be an agricultural worker and was hopelessly bored. To me it was meaningless. I would stand around in heaps of manure and sings about the beauty of the work I wasn't doing.

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.

No doubt unity is something to be desired, to be striven for, but it cannot be willed into being by mere declarations.

No heirloom of humankind captures the past as do art and language.