25 Fiddler on the Roof Quotes that are Interesting & Engaging

By Norbert Juma

Master quote curator and editor on a mission to inspire

Published April 24, 2023

As the name suggests, this article is about the Fiddler on the Roof quotes.

These quotes are associated with the characters of the book.

Apart from our quotes section, we have also provided a brief intro to “Fiddler on the Roof.”

If interested, please continue reading!

Fiddler on the Roof: The Book

Fiddler on the Roof is a book written by Joseph Stein.

It was published in 1964 and unfolds the different aspects of Tevye’s life, who is the main character.

He is a poor Jewish milkman, spending the days of his life in the small village of Anatevka, Russia.

Plot

The book is a beautiful portrayal of a community that is just about to change.

Tevye is trying hard to maintain his traditions.

However, he is facing a variety of challenges, including the shifting political atmosphere and the impact of modernity.

Tevye is a father of five daughters, and each lives with her distinctive idea of love and marriage.

Hence, Tevye needs help to create a balance between the community’s expectations and his daughters’ desires.

Themes

The portrayal of Jewish life in Eastern Europe is among the most noteworthy themes of this book.

In addition, Stein tries to depict traditions, customs, and rituals in a vivid manner.

This book also helps the reader to explore the themes of belonging and self-identity.

Character List

The characters of this book are quite memorable.

For instance, Tevye is a lovable and charming protagonist.

He is popular for his humor, wit, and warmth.

Tevye is struggling to maintain his traditions and faith in times of adversity.

Here is a list of main characters:

Tevye: A protagonist Jewish milkman.
Golde: Tevye’s wife.
Tzeitel: Tevye and Golde’s oldest daughter.
Hodel: Tevye and Golde’s second daughter.
Chava: Tevye and Golde’s third daughter.
Yente: The matchmaker trying to find husbands for Tevye’s daughters.
Perchik: A student and Hodel’s lover.
Motel: A tailor who loves Tzeitel.
Fyedka: A non-Jewish man and lover of Chava.

Fiddle on the Roof: The Musical

Fiddler on the Roof is also referred to as a musical based on the book (same title) by Joseph Stein.

Sheldon Harnick wrote its lyrics, and Jerry Bock composed the music.

Broadway production launched this musical in 1964.

The musical continuously ran for more than 3,200 performances.

Hence, it is known as one of the longest-running musicals in the history of Broadway.

The story of this musical is similar to that portrayed in the book.

However, musical numbers are added to bring characters to life.

A few of the most popular songs from “Fiddler on the Roof” musical include:

“Tradition”
“Matchmaker”
“If I Were a Rich Man,”
“Sunrise, Sunset.”

You will also enjoy our article on Acotar quotes.

Top 5 Fiddler on the Roof Quotes

These are the top Fiddler On The Roof quotes presented to you.

1. “The Good Book can wait; it’s time for Sabbath.” — Golde

2. “May the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover!” — Tevye

3. “Papa, God alone knows when we shall see each other again.” — Hodel

4. “Every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.” — Joseph Stein

5. “As the Good Book says, if you spit in the air, it lands in your face.” — Tevye

Fiddler on the Roof Quotes to Learn

Following Fiddler On The Roof quotes are a great source of learning. They will give you immense knowledge.

6. “A bird may love a fish, but where would they build a home together?” — Joseph Stein

7. “That’s where I learned that there is more to life than talk. You should know what’s going on in the outside world.” — Perchik

8. “Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as—as—as a fiddler—on the roof!” — Tevye

9. “Pray with our true heart, and bring our best selves to our family relationships only asking others to share our burden as inspired to do by the Spirit after mighty prayer.” — Rachel DeMille

10. “You may ask, ‘How did this tradition get started?’ I’ll tell you! I don’t know. But it’s a tradition. And because of our traditions, every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.” — Tevye

You will also enjoy our article on Jude and Cardan quotes.

Fiddler on the Roof Quotes About Reviews

These Fiddler On The Roof quotes are based on reviews by the authors of Fiddler On The Roof.

11. “The album for Fiddler really took off. I think it was a combination of John Williams and the score. It was a very classy big album.” — Norman Jewison

12. “As far as I remember, there was no actual lyric written to that. At the very beginning of “Fiddler on the Roof,” there’s a violin solo, an unaccompanied violin solo.” — Sheldon Harnick

13. “And so I urge you: carry on an ongoing conversation with God about the daily stuff of life, a little like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. For now, do not worry about “proper” praying; just talk to God.” — Richard J. Foster

14. “I was a Russian dancer in my elementary school production of Fiddler on the Roof when I was in third grade or fourth grade. I was one of the younger kids accepted into the play, and the plays were pretty impressive, let me say.” — Lizzy Caplan

15. “When I was a teenager, and all these shows were on, I was in that business, so I knew a lot of people in the theaters, and I saw many of the great shows many times. I would go in and stand in the back – they would let me in; they knew me. I saw Fiddler on the Roof, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Gypsy, and Funny Girl many times just standing in the back.” — Christopher Walken

Fiddler on the Roof Quotes that are Non-Forgettable

These Fiddler On The Roof quotes are difficult to forget and will stay in your mind for some time.

16. “No! No. Some things do not change for us. Some things will never change.” — Tevye

17. “Patience, woman, patience. As the Good Book says, good news will stay, and bad news will refuse to leave.” — Tevye

18. “When I went into ‘Fiddler,’ I wondered about the response I’d get – the backlash because I’m openly gay. There was none. I toured Canada and America, and not one single review suggested that I played the role of gay or that I seemed anything but Tevye.” — Harvey Fierstein

19. “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.” — Joseph Stein

20. “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!” — Sheldon Harnick