Theodore Bikel quotes - page 2

No movement can afford to be caught in a time warp and exist in a state of suspended animation. (Theodore Bikel)
In my world, history comes down to language and art. No one cares much about what battles were fought, who won them and who lost them - unless there is a painting, a play, a song or a poem that speaks of the event. View quote
Theodore Bikel
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. View quote
Theodore Bikel
We Jews have a special attachment to the Book. The study of page after page in tomes yellowing with age was obligatory. View quote
Theodore Bikel
Throughout my life I have cared as deeply about the songs of all peoples as I have about the rights of all peoples. View quote
Theodore Bikel
We live in a world of guns, bombs and terror. To conquer hate seems a nigh-impossible task. View quote
Theodore Bikel
I am determined to give the Yiddish language a fighting chance to survive. View quote
Theodore Bikel
I do not know who there is among us that can claim to know God's purpose and God's intent. View quote
Theodore Bikel
I am not a specialist but a general practitioner in the world of the arts. View quote
Theodore Bikel
I prefer to choose which traditions to keep and which to let go. View quote
Theodore Bikel
You learn more from the flops than you do from the hits. (Theodore Bikel)
I created the role of Captain Von Trapp. View quote
Theodore Bikel
When something is moving you get that intake of breath and that stillness from the audience. View quote
Theodore Bikel
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. View quote
Theodore Bikel
The play is always fresh to me. It's not the audience's fault that I've said the words before. View quote
Theodore Bikel
As an artist I have an even more abiding interest in the compact between the Arts and Government. View quote
Theodore Bikel
For I firmly believe that Jewish life, indeed any communal life, can only be organized according to democratic principles. View quote
Theodore Bikel
I am filled with awe that filmmakers have the capacity to stir us and give us back a sense of wonder. View quote
Theodore Bikel
I remain convinced that I can be a true universalist only when I am a better Jew. View quote
Theodore Bikel
I'm exceedingly proud of being an actor, but I never recommend it to anyone. View quote
Theodore Bikel
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. (Theodore Bikel)
I am first, and foremost, an actor. That's what I am. To me, a song is a mini-drama. My musical ability informs the actor as well because it gives me a sense of timing that non-musicians don't have. So, one hand washes the other. View quote
Theodore Bikel
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.' View quote
Theodore Bikel
I am not, and have never been, in favor of boycotting Israel. View quote
Theodore Bikel
Accents. I'm very good with accents. I'm exceedingly good. View quote
Theodore Bikel

Theodore Bikel

Theodore Bikel - Image
Photo: Bev Sykes, CC BY 2.0
Occupation: Austrian Actor
Born: May 2, 1924
Died: July 21, 2015
Quotes count: 60