Quotes by Eric Idle

“It was extraordinary. I mean, for us it was just an amazement that people were watching it in Dallas of all places and were loving it.”

“Weve discovered that the less we do, the more money we make.”

“But we were wrong and we were amazed.”

“Because we hate each other. Im perfectly happy to get drunk with the rest of them. I was just in London, and we had a really spectacular dinner. But I think it should go no further. Weve earned that.”

“George once said to me If wed known we were going to be The Beatles wed have tried harder.”

“It took all of 15 minutes, but then I have my David Attenborough voice down and there wasnt a lot to do. Most of the time was spent waiting for the guys in Los Angeles to come on line. When they did we breezed through it in four quick takes in a pleasant recording studio, Audio for the Arts on South Blair Street, where they do The Onion. Madison was the original home of The Onion, before it moved to New York, and they still do the radio bits from here.”

“I think the special thing about Python is that its a writers commune. The writers are in charge. The writers decide what the material is.”

“This was our first chance to get a proper, grown-up TV show.”

“He plays a great banjo, too.”

“I think hes the most intelligent man Ive ever met. Honesty, simplicity and truth are the secret to his comedy.”

Life doesnt make any sense, and we all pretend it does. Comedys job is to point out that it doesnt make sense, and that it doesnt make much difference anyway.

At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy society permits more satirical comment than a repressive, so that if comedy is to function in some way as a safety release then it must obviously deal with these taboo areas. This is part of the responsibility we accord our licensed jesters, that nothing be excused the searching light of comedy. If anything can survive the probe of humour it is clearly of value, and conversely all groups who claim immunity from laughter are claiming special privileges which should not be granted.

Mere lack of evidence, of course, is no reason to denounce a theory. Look at intelligent design. The fact that it is bollocks hasn’t stopped a good many people from believing in it. Darwinism itself is only supported by tons of evidence, which is a clear indication that Darwin didn’t write his books himself.

Life took over 4 billion years to evolve into you, and youve about 70 more years to enjoy it. Dont just pursue happiness, catch it.

I have been very blessed in my life and rewarded with good friends and good health. I am grateful and happy to be able to share this.

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 love my family, my wife, my kids, my dogs, my home, my life. I am a very happy and contented man.

At least in America, you have freedom of speech, which is a good thing. Its just a question of whether youre allowed to use it on Fox News.

“Mere lack of evidence, of course, is no reason to denounce a theory. Look at intelligent design. The fact that it is bollocks hasn’t stopped a good many people from believing in it. Darwinism itself is only supported by tons of evidence, which is a clear indication that Darwin didn’t write his books himself.”