"That was a great game of golf, fellers." - His reported last words "Frank [Sinatra] is a singer who comes along once in a lifetime, but why did he have to come in mine?" "I think popular music in this country is one of the few things in the 20th century that have made great strides in reverse." "Everyone knows I'm just a big, good-natured slob." "He never contributed a damn thing to music." - On Elvis Presley "Honestly, I think I've stretched a talent which is so thin it's almost transparent over a quite unbelievable term of years." "He was an average guy who could carry a tune." - His own epitaph "Once or twice I've been described as a light comedian. I consider this the most accurate description of my abilities I've ever seen." "A jackdaw with a cleft palate could have sung it successfully." - On his phenomenally successful single "White Christmas"