Victor Borge



Victor Borge (January 3, 1909 – December 23, 2000), born Børge Rosenbaum, was a Danish comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as The Clown Prince of Denmark, The Unmelancholy Dane, and The Great Dane.

Quotations from Borge's performances
The Nazi lifts his arm.
 * What is the difference between a Nazi and a dog?
 * Comic routine in pre-invasion Denmark, quoted in Victor Borge, 91, Comic Piano Virtuoso, Dies" in The New York Times (24 December 2000)


 * I only know two pieces, one is 'Clair de Lune', the other one isn't.
 * From the obit in The Independent.


 * When I was a little boy and played Liebestraum, my father used to hit me on the head with a newspaper every time I slopped the cadenza . . . I hate Liebestraum.
 * From the obit in The Independent.


 * (Shortly after Germany forced Denmark to sign a non-aggression pact in 1939) How nice. Now the Germans can sleep in peace, knowing that they will not be invaded by us.
 * From the obit in The Independent.


 * I learned to play the piano on my mother's knee - that was before we got a piano.
 * From the obit in the Boston Globe.


 * [of English] It's your language. I'm just trying to use it.
 * From the obit in the Boston Globe.


 * The first piano was built long after they didn't have any at all.
 * From his skit "History of Pianos" in The Best of Victor Borge

From his autobiography Smilet er den korteste afstand

 * The smile is the shortest distance between two persons (Smilet er den korteste afstand mellem to mennesker)

Off-stage quotations

 * There is a bit of Hans Christian Andersen in every Dane.
 * From the obit in The Independent.