Oscar Levant Quotes

1906–1972 United States

Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906 – August 14, 1972) was an American pianist, composer, author, comedian, and actor. He was better known for his mordant character and witticisms, on the radio and in movies and television, than for his music.

United States
Actors
Comedians
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Random Oscar Levant quote

38 quotes

What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.

Gene Perret in On the 8th Day — God Laughed (1995)

There is a thin line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.

John O'Hara was a terrible bore as a young man—always looking for a fight, and making sure he never found one.

I am no more humble than my talents require.

Memorable Quotations: Jewish Writers of the Past (2005)

Tell me, George, if you had it to do all over, would you fall in love with yourself again?

as recounted by Levant in A Smattering of Ignorance (1940)

I envy people who drink — at least they know what to blame everything on.

Jon Winokur in The Portable Curmudgeon (1992)

It would have been better if you had died and Gershwin had written the elegy.

I once said cynically of a politician, "He'll double-cross that bridge when he comes to it."

The Memoirs of an Amnesiac (1965)

Strip away the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you will find the real tinsel underneath.

Theodor Reik in Jewish Wit (1962)

As a rule I never read bad reviews about myself because my best friends invariably tell me about them.

The Memoirs of an Amnesiac (1965)

Happiness isn't something you experience; it's something you remember.

Once he makes up his mind, he's full of indecision.

I'm a study of a man in chaos in search of frenzy.

It's not a pretty face, I grant you. But underneath its flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character.

He writes the kind of music you whistle on the way into the theater.

When I used to speak of the lunatic fringe, I didn’t know I was going to be head of it.

The Memoirs of an Amnesiac (1965)

I heartily approve of her campaign to beautify America. It would be greatly improved if the First Family were kept out of sight.

This piano plays. Which is more than I can say for her.

Commenting on a sour-faced society matron in Kiss the Boys Goodbye (1941)

I have given up reading books; I find it takes my mind off myself.

Memorable Quotations: Jewish Writers of the Past (2005)

It certainly will be if you are still around.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Oscar Levant (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.