Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Paul Michael Glaser: Perchik

Photos 

Quotes 

• Perchik : Money is the world's curse.

  Tevye : May the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover!

• Perchik : Your daughter has a quick and witty tongue.

  Tevye : Yes, the wit she gets from me, as the good book says...

  Golde : The good book can wait, it's time for Sabbath.

  Tevye : The tongue she gets from her mother.

• Perchik : I'm a very good teacher.

  Hodel : I heard that the Rabbi who must praise himself has a congregation of one.

• Perchik : In this world it is the rich who are the criminals. Someday their wealth will be ours.

  Tevye : That would be nice. If they would agree, I would agree.

• Perchik : There's a question... A certain question I want to discuss with you.

  Hodel : Yes?

  Perchik : It's a political question.

  Hodel : What is it?

  Perchik : The question of... marriage.

  Hodel : Is this a political question?

  Perchik : Well, yes. Yes, everything's political. Like everything else, the relationship between a man and a woman has a socioeconomic base. Marriage must be founded on mutual beliefs. A common attitude and philosophy towards society...

  Hodel : - And affection?

  Perchik : Well, yes, of course. That is also necessary. Such a relationship can have positive social values. When two people face the world with unity and solidarity...

  Hodel : And affection?

  Perchik : Yes, that is an important element! At any rate, I... I personally am in favour of such a socioeconomic relationship.

  Hodel : I think... you are asking me to marry you.

  Perchik : Well... in a theoretical sense... yes. I am.

  Hodel : I was hoping you were.

• Perchik : [sings]  They look so natural together.

  Hodel : [sings]  Just like two newlyweds should be.

  Perchik , Hodel : [singing]  Is there a canopy in store for me?

• Tevye : And until your golden day comes, Rev. Perchik, How will you live?

  Perchik : By giving lessons to children, Do you have any children?

  Tevye : I have five daughters.

  Perchik : [Looking to Tevye in disbelief]  Five?

  Tevye : Daughters...

  Perchik : Girls can learn too, girls are people.

  Mendel : A radical!

  Tevye : Oh, go away!

  Perchik : I'd be willing to teach them, open their minds to great thoughts.

  Tevye : Yeah? I'd like them to know the Good Book.

• Perchik : You'll all chatter yourselves away into the grave.

• Perchik : Now after Jacob had worked for Laban for seven years, do you know what happened? Laban fooled him and gave him his ugly daughter, Leah. So to marry Rachel, Jacob was forced to work another seven years. So you see, children, the Bible clearly teaches us you can never trust an employer.

  Bielke : And that is what the Bible teaches us?

  Perchik : That is the lesson of the story of Jacob, if you interpret it - correctly.

• Hodel : We have an old custom here! A boy talks respectfully to a girl. But, of course, that is too traditional for an advanced thinker like you.

  Perchik : Our traditions! Nothing must change. Everything is perfect, exactly the way it is!

  Hodel : We like our ways.

  Perchik : Our ways are changing all over but here! Do you know that in the city, boys and girls can be affectionate - without the permission of a matchmaker? They hold hands together. They even dance together! New dances - like this!

  [grabs her hands and starts dancing] 

  Perchik : I learned it in Kiev! Do you like it?

  Hodel : [startled]  It's very nice...

  [they dance a few more steps and then stop still holding hands] 

  Hodel : There... we've just changed an old custom.

  Hodel : Yes... I mean, thank you. I mean... good day.

• Perchik : You have wit! Even a little intelligence.

  Hodel : Thank you.

  Perchik : Perhaps, but what good is your brain? Without curiosity, it is a rusty tool!