For I firmly believe that Jewish life, indeed any communal life, can only be organized according to democratic principles. Theodore Bikel More Quotes by Theodore Bikel More Quotes From Theodore Bikel I prefer to make common cause with those whose weapons are guitars, banjos, fiddles and words. Theodore Bikel guitar causes weapons I have always striven to raise the voice of hope for a world where hate gives way to respect and oppression to liberation. Theodore Bikel voice hate giving 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 battle soul memories 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. Theodore Bikel strong humility justice No heirloom of humankind captures the past as do art and language. Theodore Bikel heirlooms past art 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 obligation certain compassionate We live in a world of guns, bombs and terror. To conquer hate seems a nigh-impossible task. Theodore Bikel tasks hate gun One might have thought the world would stop ascribing moral equivalence between acts of terrorism and acts of punishing terrorism. It has not happened that way. Theodore Bikel might way world You don't really need modernity in order to exist totally and fully. You need a mixture of modernity and tradition. Theodore Bikel mixtures order needs I am determined to give the Yiddish language a fighting chance to survive. Theodore Bikel determined fighting giving I am a universalist, passionately devoted to the cause of equality within the human family. Theodore Bikel equality causes humans 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 hopeless workers bored There is no role I cannot play except a midget. Theodore Bikel midget roles play In my mind the city of Ariel is a thorn in Israel's side and a serious obstacle to peace. Theodore Bikel israel cities mind You learn more from the flops than from the hits. Theodore Bikel I do not know who there is among us that can claim to know God's purpose and God's intent. Theodore Bikel knowing-god purpose claims I prefer to choose which traditions to keep and which to let go. Theodore Bikel tradition letting-go Accents. I'm very good with accents. I'm exceedingly good. Theodore Bikel accents very-good I am not, and have never been, in favor of boycotting Israel. Theodore Bikel favors israel The play is always fresh to me. It's not the audience's fault that I've said the words before. Theodore Bikel faults air play
