John Cleese Quotes

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John Cleese

Profession : Actor

Birth : October 27, 1939

I think that money spoils most things, once it becomes the primary motivating force.

John Cleese

Now most people do not want an ordinary life in which they do a job well, earn the respect of their collaborators and competitors, bring up a family and have friends. That's not enough any more, and I think that is absolutely tragic - and I'm not exaggerating - that people feel like a decent, ordinary, fun life is no longer enough.

John Cleese

I was very sad to hear of the death of Ronnie Barker, who was such a warm, friendly and encouraging presence to have when I started in television. He was also a great comic actor to learn from.

John Cleese

You don't have to be the Dalai Lama to tell people that life's about change.

John Cleese

He who laughs most, learns best.

John Cleese

A wonderful thing about true laughter is that it just destroys any kind of system of dividing people.

John Cleese

The most creative people have this childlike facility to play.

John Cleese

If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth.

John Cleese

If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.

John Cleese

I'm always meeting new people, and my list of friends seems to change quite a bit.

John Cleese

Well, the only way I can get a leading-man role is if I write it.

John Cleese

I think it's because in America you always get the sense that if you fail, you can just pack up your things and go somewhere else and try again. But in England, it's so geographically small that if somebody succeeds here, it reduces your chances of succeeding.

John Cleese

England is a fairly envious little country and it's embodied in the press. They don't like anyone being more distinguished than they are.

John Cleese

Don't let anyone tell you what you ought to like... Some wines that some experts think are absolutely exquisite don't appeal to me at all.

John Cleese

The really good idea is always traceable back quite a long way, often to a not very good idea which sparked off another idea that was only slightly better, which somebody else misunderstood in such a way that they then said something which was really rather interesting.

John Cleese

But then acting is all about faking. We're all very good at faking things that we have no competence with.

John Cleese

I have several times made a poor choice by avoiding a necessary confrontation.

John Cleese

The thrill I got discovering Buster Keaton when I was growing up was so exciting. He was one of the greats.

John Cleese

I love having different cultures around, but when the parent culture kind of dissipates, you're left thinking, 'Well, what's going on?'

John Cleese

The English contribution to world cuisine - the chip.

John Cleese