Quotes from Simon Cowell

The only people with power today are the audience. And that is increasing with Twitter, Facebook, and everything else. We cater to their likes and dislikes, and you ignore that at your peril.

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

I think if you're an unhappy person, you're always going to be an unhappy person. You're probably going to be less unhappy if your business is doing well, if I'm being honest.

Women say hello and then put their hands down my trousers. I thought it was my hand they were supposed to shake.

I think America is a hard nut to crack. But once you get a toehold, it's a great place for an entrepreneur because people are so enthusiastic, and you have the most enthusiastic audiences in world.

Britain's got talent, enormous talent; that's very obvious.

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

Work hard, be patient, and be a sponge while learning your business. Learn how to take criticism. Follow your gut instincts and don't compromise.

My life honestly isn't as weird as people think it is. I work longer hours, maybe I have a bit more money, but fundamentally, I'm not really that different.

The young people working for me are ambitious and hard-working. That work ethic has always been a trait of the British.

My dad said to me, 'Work hard and be patient.' It was the best advice he ever gave me. You have to put the hours in.

I don't mind competition at all. I mean, the record business is the most competitive business in the world, probably. So I'm used to that. In a weird way, it kind of makes you work harder.

I work out three or four times a week, I have Botox, take tons of vitamins and vitamin infusions - if you believe that these things work, you will feel better.

Choosing how you vote should not be a snap verdict based on a few minutes of television.

I do see a big difference in the American work ethic compared to the British work ethic in a lot of artists.

The only magazines I read are car magazines.

I don't think I can do this anymore.

It's the government's job to encourage entrepreneurialism and investment. Most importantly, it's the government's duty to inspire confidence.

My dad did teach me a very important lesson about people when he explained to me that everybody around you will have an invisible sign on their head, which says, "Make me feel important."

I'm going to give all my money away, eventually. I don't believe in all this hand-down stuff. Even if I had kids, I don't think I'd want to give them everything.

I like to know why a video has suddenly gone viral, why a song has broken, why a TV show is suddenly rating out of pattern... I'm pretty good at understanding why things are becoming popular.

The best way to kill someone is from the inside, by crushing their hopes and dreams.

I like spaghetti bolognese, I like baked beans on toast. I hate French food. I hate fancy food.