Your deeds exceed the power of human imagination. They are without equal in the history of mankind. How can we (the German people) ever thank you?

Through my optimism I naturally prefer and capture the beauty in life.

I feel as though I have lived many lives, experienced the heights and depths of each and like the waves of the ocean, never known rest. Throughout the years, I looked always for the unusual, for the wonderful, for the mysteries at the heart of life.

I am fascinated by what is beautiful, strong, healthy, what is living. I seek harmony.

My desire to dive with an oxygen cylinder was so intensive that I decided to use a trick. Registering as Helene Jacob, I lied about my age: instead of 1902, I wrote 1922 in the application forms. My rejuvenation not withstanding, the scuba instructor eyed me skeptically; he was probably thinking: She'll never make it.

In 1934 people were crazy and there was great enthusiasm for Hitler. We had to try and find that with our camera.