"In America there’s a custom: you moofe. That is, you pack up from one apartment to the next. From one street to the n…"

"Once a joke, twice a joke, but not a joke forever."

"The sun gave light, but no warmth. Like a stepmother, as they say in Kasrilevke."

"In one of your letters, you [Grandfather] said to me: “I would advise you not to write any novels, as your taste, you…"

"That is precisely the problem with the youth of today: we never have any time, and we rush the entire work in one sin…"

"We Jews are fond of listening to music and have a good grasp of melody—even our enemies would be the first to admit t…"

"The fiddle weeps, sinking to the lower strings"

"No doubt everyone has worries—a Jew does not need to go looking for trouble."

"The heart itself, and particularly the Jewish heart, is a violin: you pluck the strings, teasing out various, general…"

"He would grab his fiddle and with one pass of his bow, just one mind you, the fiddle would begin to speak. What do I …"