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.

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

We Jews have a special attachment to the Book. The study of page after page in tomes yellowing with age was obligatory.

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

You don't really need modernity in order to exist totally and fully. You need a mixture of modernity and tradition.

In my world, history comes down to language and art.