Carol Burnett

“I think the reason I was successful is that I was never cynical.”

“We all get where we're going by circuitous journeys, and some of the setbacks are warranted.”

“I can't tell a joke to save my soul. It's just not my thing, though I love to listen to jokes.”

“When I was starting out in this business, that was the norm. You did it all. You looked around, and entertainers could dance, sing, play the piano, act, make you laugh.”

“My grandmother and I saw an average of eight movies a week, double features, second run.”

“My preference is for people who can do sketch comedy or situational comedy, where it's not a joke, but it's telling a story.”

“My first book was an open letter to my three daughters.”

“Jimmy Stewart and Lucille Ball were so unique.”

“When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go.”

“You have to go through the falling down in order to learn to walk. It helps to know that you can survive it. That's an education in itself.”

“I wanted to be on Broadway, but in musical comedy.”

“My favourite comedian, of course, is Tim Conway. He has a way about him - being that belly-laugh kind of funny, and he has the improvisational skills, too. I've never seen anybody better.”

“I eat very well, and I do Pilates.”

“Funny is funny. I dare anyone to look at Tim Conway and Harvey Korman doing the dentist sketch, which is more than 40 years old, and not scream with laughter.”

“I do the 'New York Times' crossword puzzle every morning to keep the old grey matter ticking.”

“I loved doing 'The Family' with Eunice and Mama. They were very interesting because there were no jokes written into those sketches. It was all character-driven. And sometimes it got a little heavy.”

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.”

“My grandmother and I followed my mother here, to a house a block north of Hollywood Boulevard but a million miles away from Hollywood, if you know what I mean. We would hang out behind the ropes and look at the movie stars arriving at the premieres.”

“אם אני הולכת למסיבה, אני בכלל לא אחת שתהיה הבן אדם הכי מצחיק בחדר.”

“הלוואי שאמא שלי הייתה משאירה לי משהו על איך שהיא הרגישה כשגדלה. הלוואי שסבתא שלי הייתה עושה את אותו הדבר. רציתי שהבנות שלי יכירו אותי.”