Fiddler on the Roof (1971) · 42 quotes
Most-quoted character in Fiddler on the Roof (1971): in 30 of its 42 quotes
Most scenes with: Perchik (3), Golde (3)
I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?
Tevye A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say 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 up there if it's so dangerous? Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: Tradition!
Tevye You made many many poor people, I realize of course it's no shame to be poor, but it's no great honor either. Now what would be so terrible if I had a small fortune?
Tevye You may ask, how did this tradition get started? I'll tell you. I don't know.
Tevye Because of our traditions, every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.
Tevye Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... as... as a fiddler on the roof!
Tevye As the good book says, if you spit in the air, it lands in your face.
Tevye 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?"
Tevye 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?
Tevye When I get angry, even flies don't dare to fly!
Tevye It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. After all, with Your help, I'm starving to death.
Tevye As the good book says... aaahh, why should I tell You what the good book says?
Tevye All right, children. Let's go.
Tevye 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!
Tevye 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.
Leibesh Is there a proper blessing for the czar?
Rabbi A blessing for the czar? Of course. May God bless and keep the czar... far away from us.
Tevye As the good book says, when a poor man eats a chicken, one of them is sick.
Mendel Where does the book say that?
Tevye Well, it doesn't say that exactly, but somewhere there is something about a chicken.
Tevye Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play?
In this world it is the wealthy who are criminals. Someday their wealth will be ours.
Tevye That would be nice. If they would agree, I would agree.
Tevye As Abraham said, "I am a stranger in a strange land..."
Mendel Moses said that.
Tevye Ah. Well, as King David said, "I am slow of speech, and slow of tongue."
Mendel That was also Moses.
Tevye For a man who was slow of tongue, he talked a lot.
Money is the world's curse.
Tevye May the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover.
Lazar Wolf How is your brother-in-law? In America?
Tevye Oh, he's doing very well.
Lazar Wolf Oh, he wrote you?
Tevye No, not lately.
Lazar Wolf Then how do you know?
Tevye If he was doing badly, he would write.
Constable You're an honest, decent person. Even though you are a Jew.
Tevye Oh... Thank you, your honor. How often does a man get a compliment like that?
Tevye Thank you, your honor. You are a good man. If I may say so, it's too bad you're not a Jew.
Constable That's what I like about you, Tevye. You're always joking.
Lazar Wolf Have a drink?
Tevye I won't insult you by saying no.
Your daughter has a quick and witty tongue.
Tevye Yes, the wit she gets from me, as the good book says...
The good book can wait, it's time for Sabbath.
Tevye The tongue she gets from her mother.
Villager An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
Tevye Very good. That way the whole world will be blind and toothless.
He's right, and he's right? They can't both be right.
Tevye You know, you are also right.
Tevye Pardon me, Lazar Wolfe, but how can a little cow keep you company?
"Little Cow"?! is that what you call her?!
Tevye What else am I to call her? She is a cow!
What are you talking about?
Tevye No, what are you talking about?
No, what are you talking about?
Tevye No, what are you talking about?
No, what are you talking about?
Tevye The new milk cow you want to buy from me!
A milk cow! A milk cow so I won't be lonely!
Motel You won't be sorry! You won't be sorry!
Tevye I won't be sorry? I'm sorry already!
We will be staying with Uncle Avram.
Chava Yes, mama.
Tevye We will be staying with Uncle Avram. We will be staying with Uncle Avram!!! THE WHOLE WORLD HAS TO KNOW OUR BUSINESS!!!
Stop yelling and finish packing. We have a long way to go.
Tevye Golde, I don't need your advice!!!! Tzeitel, don't forget the baby.
