When I was off TV, people would ask me to please come back, which I think was their way of saying, 'There's nothing out there for us.'

I think that what comes through in Chicago humor is the affection. Even though you're poking fun at someone or something, there's still an affection for it.

A lot of money is spent trying to keep people alive who don't necessarily want to be alive.

With the stand-up comic on TV, whether it's Seinfeld or Cosby or Roseanne, more important than their knowledge of how to tell a joke is their knowledge of themselves, or the persona they've created as themselves. So that when you're in a room with writers, you can say, 'Guys, that's a funny line, but I wouldn't say it.'

When I started, I was doing all the good comedians I'd ever seen. Then I developed my own voice. My routines are my natural way of looking at the world.

For a comedian, there is nothing better than watching another great comedian.

I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy, and if didn't work, then I knew it didn't work. Then I would go back and do whatever. But at least I wouldn't torture myself the rest of my life, wondering whatever would have happened.

I've had time off, and it drove me nuts. I was crawling up the wall.

I was very political when JFK ran.

Don't live in the past. There's no point. You can't change anything. What a waste of time.

I certainly don't delude myself that there aren't certainly more important things to do in life than make people laugh, but I can't imagine anything that would bring me more joy.

People with a sense of humor tend to be less egocentric and more realistic in their view of the world and more humble in moments of success and less defeated in times of travail.

The schizophrenic has no sense of humor. His world is a constantly daunting, unfriendly place.

No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually laughing.

You're not dead at 85. You're a long way from it. Go out and enjoy. You've earned it.

Chuck Lorre and I had been talking about doing one of his shows for a while. I said I'd like to do 'The Big Bang Theory,' because I think it's the best written, most intelligent show on television.

I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.

I don't think of myself as an American Master. I've just been making a living.

Stand-up is different from television. In stand-up, you've got to be in control.

There is an edginess in my work that people don't always recognize.

I don't want to sound like the old guy, but cynicism is a potential danger. It colors our way of looking at the world.

I didn't know I was cool, but I was very flattered that some of the younger comedy writers came up to talk to me at the Emmys. I found that gratifying.

The only way to survive is to have a sense of humour.

I don't think too much about age. Maybe if you're hurting, aching and arthritic, then you think about it a lot. But I don't.