Quotes from Simon Cowell

I didn't have any qualifications when I left school - I had three O-levels.

I am quite miserable because I'm never satisfied with what I've got. You're always looking for that next high, and that is what I would define as happiness.

There's no need for me to get married. I live with someone; we're happy; end of story.

I met someone the other night who's 28 years old, and he hasn't worked a day since he left college because he's pursuing a dream he'll never, ever realize: He thinks he's a great singer. Actually, he's crap.

I don't want to tell a 15 or 14 year old what they should be doing. I want them to tell me. And that's what I got when I met Justin Bieber for the first time.

I didn't realise how important stupid people are in your life, because you ask yourself, what made stupid people so stupid? What made them the way they are?

I was bought an electric guitar when I was 12, but my guitar teacher beat me up. I didn't like guitar lessons and I got quite bored. My teacher was obviously bored giving me lessons, and one day I offered him a liquorice toffee, but he didn't answer. So I threw it at him, it hit him in the face, and he sort of beat me up.

I get very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. I don't have time for them. I can't make phone calls and stuff. I just sit on my own for days.

What other people think about me is none of my business .

You didn't beat the compotition you crushed the compotition!

It was like orderin a hamburger and getting only the buns (After Brooke White of season 7 on american idol sang the song 'Hero' by Mariah Carey)

Not everybody is perfect, and I don't think we should be looking for perfect people.

I think you have to judge everything based on your personal taste. And if that means being critical, so be it. I hate political correctness. I absolutely loathe it.

If you've got a big mouth and you're controversial, you're going to get attention.

My attitude is, if someone's going to criticize me, tell me to my face.

My proudest achievement has been the success of the shows and artists I have been involved with, because they were made in Britain.

Anyone who complains about invasion of privacy shouldn't work in the entertainment business. You can't have it both ways. It's as simple as that.

I have always hated celebrities lecturing people on politics. So forgive me. But I am passionate about this country. I am equally passionate about the potential of the people who live here.

I have seen that the American Dream is a reality - and I would love to feel the British Dream is also a reality. To enable that, we have to bring back some common sense and encourage family values, a proper sense of justice and make people believe they have a decent chance to build a business or career for themselves. I see this moment as a fantastic opportunity to restore this, because I believe Britain Has Talent.

I think that by ignoring the show you're ignoring the audience who put you there.

Sometimes you feel there's like a tidal wave of stuff that continues to come. You feel trapped.

It's one of those important things you learn in your life, which is, your ego can start believing it is only you... and you don't recognize the people around you.

I was living life like in one of those Disney movies, where I genuinely believed nobody was ever going to die

When you're making a reality show, you can't even plan a week ahead now.