Quotes from Ricky Gervais

As an artist, you want as many people as possible to see your work with no interference. And usually, I've gone onto fringe channels: BBC Two, HBO, Channel 4.

Just looking at all the faces here reminds me of some of the great work that was done this year . . . by cosmetic surgeons.

The only reason I work out is so I can eat more cheese.

I am myself sometimes, and I do state my opinions, but not in a comedy routine and not in my character. There always has to be some sort of layer to it.

I like grown-up comedy, where it's about character and attitude and life as opposed to obvious gross-out and jokes.

I do the Golden Globes because they say I can say what I want. I wouldn't have that at the Oscars.

I think Hollywood's gotten more reactionary and conservative over the years, because there's no longer art in Hollywood. Art suffers in Hollywood.

Even if it's such a lowly art as TV, you've got to get stuff off your chest, because that's what makes something different and original, your particular take on stuff.

I'm not a film snob at all. I much prefer a really good Hollywood blockbuster than a thought-provoking art house movie because entertainment is sort of where it's at.

My greatest hero is Nelson Mandela. What a man. Incarcerated for 25 years, he was released in 1990 and he hasn't reoffended. I think he's going straight, which shows you prison does work.

Know your limitations and be content with them. Too much ambition results in promotion to a job you can't do.

I still see myself as a bit of a cottage industry. Being in a room creating stuff and seeing if anyone wants it, as opposed to going to work for someone.

Proper stupidity is fascinating.

Stupidity without malice isn't horrible; some people can't help it.

I think the best advice I'd say to any actor when you do comedy is play it straight.

I was never ambitious. I was never ambitious at school.

Even on the stage, I've played a bit of a persona, and the persona I played was a much brasher, more arrogant, less aware, less educated version of me.

People confuse the subject of the joke with the target of the joke, and they're very rarely the same.

I've avoided doing a network comedy, because I wouldn't get my own way. Even though it would get more viewers, it wouldn't be mine.

I love UFC, vigilante films, and any acts of merciless heroism.

I remember asking my mum when I was about 13, 'Why are my brothers and sister so much older than me?' And she just said, 'You were a mistake.' And I laughed.

You give up a lot being an atheist.

I think comedy has to be an intellectual pursuit. It comes down to logic and analysis. As soon as it becomes emotional, it's not comedy anymore.

Animals are not here for us to do as we please with. We are not their superiors, we are their equals. We are their family. Be kind to them.