Theodore Bikel Quotes

A collection of quotes by Theodore Bikel.

Theodore Bikel (1924-2015) was an Austrian-American actor, singer, and activist. Born in Vienna, he fled to Palestine during World War II and later settled in the United States. Bikel became a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for his versatile talent and rich baritone voice. He appeared in numerous Broadway productions, films, and television shows, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards throughout his career. Bikel was also a passionate advocate for human rights, particularly for Jewish causes and civil rights. His contributions to the arts and activism left a lasting impact on both the stage and society.

You don't really need modernity in order to exist totally an

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

Order Tradition Need You Exist

No heirloom of humankind captures the past as do art and lan

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

Art

But there is a difference here: When Jewish children are mur

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.

Death

In my mind the city of Ariel is a thorn in Israel's side and

In my mind the city of Ariel is a thorn in Israel's side and a serious obstacle to peace.

Peace

All too often arrogance accompanies strength, and we must ne

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.

Power

I have always striven to raise the voice of hope for a world

I have always striven to raise the voice of hope for a world where hate gives way to respect and oppression to liberation.

Hope

We Jews have a special attachment to the Book. The study of

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

Age

On the stage you're there, it's live. There's a beginning, a

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.

Funny

In my world, history comes down to language and art. No one

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.

Art

Although I am deeply grateful to a great many people, I forg

Although I am deeply grateful to a great many people, I forgo the temptation of naming them for fear that I might slight any by omission.

Fear

I am a universalist, passionately devoted to the cause of eq

I am a universalist, passionately devoted to the cause of equality within the human family.

Equality

You can't expect the entire world to come to New York to see

You can't expect the entire world to come to New York to see you. You have to travel to them.

Travel

Having come to live in this age is as though one were to hav

Having come to live in this age is as though one were to have entered another country. Learn its language or risk being left out.

Age

Epistemology is the study of knowledge. By what conduit do w

Epistemology is the study of knowledge. By what conduit do we know what we know?

Knowledge

As an artist I have an even more abiding interest in the com

As an artist I have an even more abiding interest in the compact between the Arts and Government.

Government

I tried for a while to be an agricultural worker and was hop

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

Beauty

I tried for a while to be an agricultural worker and was hop

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.

Beauty