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" As an artist I have an even more abiding interest in the compact between the Arts and Government. "
Theodore Bikel
Artist
More
Interest
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" But there is a difference here: When Jewish children are murdered, Arabs celebrate the deed. The death of an Arab child is no cause for celebration in Israel. "
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Here
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" But, when I toil in the field of Jewish culture which I frequently do, I am indeed a Jewish artist. "
Theodore Bikel
I Am
Am
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" In my mind the city of Ariel is a thorn in Israel's side and a serious obstacle to peace. "
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" I am determined to give the Yiddish language a fighting chance to survive. "
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I Am
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" I always sang, I always acted, I always played. "
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Sang
Played
Always
" I am filled with awe that filmmakers have the capacity to stir us and give us back a sense of wonder. "
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Awe
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" I am a Zionist, an ardent supporter of Israel, its defender when I deem Israel to be right and its critic when I deem it to be wrong. "
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Right
Critic
Am
" For I firmly believe that Jewish life, indeed any communal life, can only be organized according to democratic principles. "
Theodore Bikel
Organized
Principles
Believe
" I do prefer the stage. It's really the granddaddy of them all. "
Theodore Bikel
Granddaddy
Really
Prefer
" I prefer to make common cause with those whose weapons are guitars, banjos, fiddles and words. "
Theodore Bikel
Whose
Cause
Common
" I'm exceedingly proud of being an actor, but I never recommend it to anyone. "
Theodore Bikel
Actor
Recommend
Being
" You learn more from the flops than from the hits. "
Theodore Bikel
More
Than
Flops
" By showing hunger, deprivation, starvation and brutality, as well as endurance and nobility, documentaries inform, prod our memories, even stir us to action. Such films do battle for our very soul. "
Theodore Bikel
Action
Us
Endurance
" 'Visiting Mr. Green' is a good play. I enjoy being in it, and I have a wonderful colleague, Aidan deSalaiz, to work with. Audiences like it a lot. What's not to like? "
Theodore Bikel
Play
Good
Green
" 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.' "
Theodore Bikel
Theatre
Knowledge
Life
" You don't really need modernity in order to exist totally and fully. You need a mixture of modernity and tradition. "
Theodore Bikel
Need
You
Exist
" 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. "
Theodore Bikel
Simple
World
Theory
" No movement can afford to be caught in a time warp and exist in a state of suspended animation. "
Theodore Bikel
Afford
Time
Exist
" You cannot please all of the people all of the time, and that is truer in the arts than anywhere else. "
Theodore Bikel
Than
Arts
Cannot
" I don't speak out because I am an actor nor will I keep silent because I am an actor. I respect my profession, but it endows me with no special privileges; but it also does not limit me or muzzle me. I am a person and a citizen with the attendant responsibilities of voice and vote. "
Theodore Bikel
Me
Respect
Speak
" I do not know who there is among us that can claim to know God's purpose and God's intent. "
Theodore Bikel
God
Us
Claim
" You can't expect the entire world to come to New York to see you. You have to travel to them. "
Theodore Bikel
Travel
World
You
" 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. "
Theodore Bikel
Pride
Me
Cultures
" There is no role I cannot play except a midget. "
Theodore Bikel
Play
Except
Midget
" Accents. I'm very good with accents. I'm exceedingly good. "
Theodore Bikel
Very
Accents
Exceedingly
" 'Retiring' - within that word is 'tiring,' and I'm not tired. I don't believe in retirement, really. "
Theodore Bikel
Within
Believe
Retirement
" Audiences are audiences. "
Theodore Bikel
Audiences
" I know for certain of only one commandment, one obligation, that God imposes upon us, and that is to be compassionate toward other human beings. "
Theodore Bikel
God
Human
Obligation
" The play is always fresh to me. It's not the audience's fault that I've said the words before. "
Theodore Bikel
Play
Said
Words
" 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? "
Theodore Bikel
Survival
Support
Pride