Because if you lived, as I did, several years under Nazi totalitarianism, and then 20 years in communist totalitarianism, you would certainly realize how precious freedom is, and how easy it is to lose your freedom.

I was born in a small town. My parents, my father was a teacher. My mother was a housewife.

I worked with Jack Nitzsche for 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' and we'd booked a symphony orchestra. He dismissed them and came with a little man who poured water into glasses of different sizes to make a glass harmonica. And most of the music for the film was that - with some Indian flutes and some drums.

Memories are doing funny things to us.

Mediocrity never goes away - but neither, I hope, do those who are willing to challenge it.

Humor was not important only for me, humor was important for this nation for centuries, to survive, you know.