Carmish: You're a stranger in Damascus. I can tell by your beard. And what each stranger hungers to see first is the Tinted Wall. Only a stone's throw away, the Tinted Wall! Let Carmish take you, for as Carmish is known to say, grab hold of the day - who knows if the night will ever come?


--Joseph Wiseman (as Carmish) in The Prodigal

Fernando: Cut off the head of the snake and the body will die.


--Joseph Wiseman (as Fernando Aguirre) in Viva Zapata!

Fernando: This is all very disorganized.


--Joseph Wiseman (as Fernando Aguirre) in Viva Zapata!

Jacob Schpitendavel: I do not know, Louis Minsky, if we pray to the same God.
Louis Minsky: We must. Only a God who could tolerate me, could possibly tolerate you.


--Joseph Wiseman (as Louis Minsky) in The Night They Raided Minsky's

Jacob Schpitendavel: I need your help, Louis Minsky. My daughter will not be welcome in my home if she stays the night to dance upon your son's stage. There is a train in 51 minutes. You must tell your son to see she is on it.
Louis Minsky: You see this chair? Tell it to dance. See if it listens. That's how much my Billy listens to me.


--Joseph Wiseman (as Louis Minsky) in The Night They Raided Minsky's

Jacob Schpitendavel: Louis Minsky, are thee father to the Minsky what has the theater?
Louis Minsky: Yes.
Jacob Schpitendavel: If I were thee, I would thrash thy son to within an inch of his life.
Louis Minsky: You are not me, and you may still do it.


--Joseph Wiseman (as Louis Minsky) in The Night They Raided Minsky's

Jacob Schpitendavel: Louis Minsky, if you do not now go at once to prevent thy son from bringing my daughter to such ignominy, I shall, as Agnon
[?]
Jacob Schpitendavel: did, raise the finger of righteousness
[raises index finger]
Jacob Schpitendavel: to call down the wrath of heaven.
Vance Fowler: My father, an Episcopal vestryman, used this
[raises pinkie finger]
Vance Fowler: as the finger of righteousness.
Louis Minsky: Bah! And again, Bah! There is no finger of righteousness. This
[raises pinkie and turns it in his ear]
Louis Minsky: is the finger of cleanliness. This
[raises ring finger]
Louis Minsky: is the finger of marital bliss
[points to wedding band]
Louis Minsky: . This
[raises index]
Louis Minsky: is the finger of vengeance. This
[levels middle finger toward Fowler, palm downward]
Louis Minsky: is the finger of meddling in other people's lives
[pokes Fowler in chest with middle finger]
Louis Minsky: . And this
[sticks out thumb]
Louis Minsky: is the finger of transportation. It will get us a taxi to the theater. You speak with the fist of authority, gentlemen, but you do not know your fingers.


--Joseph Wiseman (as Louis Minsky) in The Night They Raided Minsky's