Fiddler on the Roof (film)

"[Opening lines] A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But, here, in our little village of Anatevka, every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask, why do we stay here if it's so dangerous? We stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: Tradition!"

"Because of our traditions, we have kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka, we have traditions for everything: how to how to eat, how to sleep, how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered, and always wear a little prayer-shawl. This shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, how did this tradition start? I'll tell you. I don't know. But it's a tradition. And because of our traditions, every one of us knows who he is, and what God expects him to do."

"Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... as... as a fiddler on the roof!"

"[to God] Sometimes I wonder, when it gets too quiet up there, if You are thinking, "What kind of mischief can I play on My friend Tevye?""

"[to God] It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. After all, with Your help, I'm starving to death. Oh, dear Lord. You made many many poor people. I realize, of course, it's no shame to be poor... but it's no great honor either. So what would be so terrible... if I had a small fortune?"

"As the Good Book says, if you spit in the air, it lands in your face."

"[to God] I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?"

"[to Chava] As the Good Book says "Each shall seek his own kind". In other words, a bird may love a fish... but where would they build a home together?"

"When I get angry, even flies don't dare to fly!"

"Golde, I am the man in the family! I am the head of the house! And I want to see Motel's new machine now! [looks inside Motel's house for barely a second] Now let's go home!"

"[to God] Am I bothering You too much? I'm sorry. As the good book says... aaahh, why should I tell You what the Good Book says?"

"[Last lines] All right, children. Let's go."

"As the good book says, when a poor man eats a chicken, one of them is sick."

"On the other hand, how can I turn my back on my faith, my people? If I try and bend that far, I'll break. On the other hand... No. There is no other hand."

"If God lived on earth, people would break His windows."

"Ah, children, they are your blessing in your old age. But of course my Aaron couldn't give me children. Between you and me, Golde, he hardly tried."

"Not everyone is a man!"

"From such children, come other children!"

"Hodel: [to Tevye] The world is changing, Papa."

"Fyedka: [introducing himself to Chava] I'm a pleasant fellow - charming, honest, ambitious, quite bright, and very modest."

"Hodel: We only have one Rabbi, and he only has one son. Why shouldn't I want the best?"

"Motel: If the rich could hire others to die for them, we, the poor, would all make a nice living."

"Motel: Even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness!"

"Motel: You'll all chatter yourselves away into the grave."

"A tradition"

"The screen's most magnificent entertainment returns... filled with joy, laughter, love and life."

"Shout It From The Rooftops!"

"Chaim Topol - Tevye"

"Norma Crane - Golde"

"Leonard Frey -Motel Kamzoil"

"Molly Picon - Yente"

"Paul Mann - Lazar Wolfe"

"Rosalind Harris - Tzeitel"

"Michele Marsh - Hodel"

"Michael Glaser - Perchik"