Oscar Levant > Quotes

“There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.”
― Oscar Levant

“I was once thrown out of a mental hospital for depressing the other patients.”
― Oscar Levant

“The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too.”
― Oscar Levant

“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left.”
― Oscar Levant

“Every time I look at you I get a fierce desire to be lonesome.”
― Oscar Levant

“Happiness isn't something you experience, it's something you remember.”
― Oscar Levant

“It's not what you are, it's what you don't become that hurts.”
― Oscar Levant

“Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I.”
― Oscar Levant

“Underneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character.”
― Oscar Levant

“A pun is the lowest form of humor—when you don't think of it first.”
― Oscar Levant

“Once I make up my mind, I'm full of indecision.”
― Oscar Levant

“So little time and so little to do.”
― Oscar Levant

“In some situations I was difficult, in odd moments impossible, in rare moments loathsome, but at my best unapproachably great.”
― Oscar Levant

“You can't possibly hear the last movement of Beethoven's Seventh and go slow. (Oscar trying to talk his way out of a speeding ticket)”
― Oscar Levant

“I'm going to memorize your name and throw my head away.”
― Oscar Levant

“When I can't sleep, I read a book by Steve Allen.”
― Oscar Levant

“On Ira Gershwin:
I remember when he was given the manuscript of a novel written by a woman friend who had hopes of having it published. To his astonishment it turned out to be the dirtiest, most pornographic book he had ever read. When the lady mentioned that she intended to use a nom de plume, Ira suggested she call herself Henrietta Miller.”
― Oscar Levant, The Unimportance Of Being Oscar