Eric Idle

Probably spending 12 years at boarding school - comedy became a survival gene. But I think some people are funny right off the bat, as soon as they can speak or be naughty. ”

It just seems to me that there's no particular reason comedy albums should be dead. There's a lot to laugh at. We have very funny people, still. ”

To me, the musical is best when it's a musical comedy. So if you have a very, very funny show, and very good, funny songs, that's what the musical does best. ”

I do pool exercises, like weightlifting but underwater. I walk, I swim... I'm pretty fit for an old bloke. ”

I'm more surprised than anyone that 'Spamalot's done so well. You can never predict what's going to be a hit. ”

Life took over 4 billion years to evolve into you, and you've about 70 more years to enjoy it. Don't just pursue happiness, catch it. ”

My education was paid for by the RAF Benevolent Fund, so a charity school, run like an orphanage, with uniforms and beatings. It was tough, but it got me to Cambridge - like being a chrysalis suddenly becoming a butterfly. ”

I'm drawn to things that aren't particularly popular at the time. I don't know why. ”

I won't read scripts because I have a limited amount of time. Why should I help other people do lame stuff when I can just go out and put on lame stuff of my own? ”