328 Quotes by John Cleese

Don't let anyone tell you what you ought to like...

We all operate in two contrasting modes, which might be called open and closed. The open mode is more relaxed, more receptive, more exploratory, more democratic, more playful and more humorous. The closed mode is the tighter, more rigid, more hierarchical, more tunnel-visioned. Most people, unfortunately spend most of their time in the closed mode.

Creativity is not an ability that you either have or do not have. It is, for example, and this may surprise you, absolutely unrelated to IQ, provided you're intelligent above a certain minimal level.

Political correctness is a bit like a granny, a maiden aunt arriving at a party when everyone's having a good time. And she comes in, they all start sort of buttoning up and becoming self-conscious and behaving properly and then when she leaves, you can have fun again.

While you're being creative, nothing is wrong. There's no such thing as a mistake, and any drivel may lead to the breakthrough.

All humour is critical, you know? You make stupid jokes. I mean, stupidity is an infirmity, isn't it?

Give your mind as long as possible to come up with something original.

Tension is wonderful for making people laugh.

There's something about watching an animal that puts you in contact with where we came from and what we're still a part of.