When the target audience is American teenage kids, you can have problems. My generation prized really fine acting and writing. Sometimes you have to go back to the basic principles which underpin great visual comedy.

Quote by John Cleese

Topics: John Cleese Quotes

You don't have to be the Dalai Lama to tell people that life's about change.

You don't have to be the Dalai Lama to tell people that life's about change.

Oh, I could spend my life having this conversation - look - please try to...

Oh, I could spend my life having this conversation - look - please try to...

If God did not intend for us to eat animals, then why did he make...

If God did not intend for us to eat animals, then why did he make...

I can't tell you how scary it can be walking onto a movie and suddenly...

I can't tell you how scary it can be walking onto a movie and suddenly...

The really good idea is always traceable back quite a long way, often to a...

The really good idea is always traceable back quite a long way, often to a...

Comedy always works best when it is mean-spirited.

Comedy always works best when it is mean-spirited.

The thrill I got discovering Buster Keaton when I was growing up was so exciting....

The thrill I got discovering Buster Keaton when I was growing up was so exciting....

It seems astounding to me now that the video games are perhaps as important as...

It seems astounding to me now that the video games are perhaps as important as...

If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.

If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.

God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather punitive father who has to be pacified...

God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather punitive father who has to be pacified...

I can never do better than Fawlty Towers whatever I do. Now I very much...

I can never do better than Fawlty Towers whatever I do. Now I very much...

For me, the great problem growing up in England was that I had a very...

For me, the great problem growing up in England was that I had a very...

I was very sad to hear of the death of Ronnie Barker, who was such...

I was very sad to hear of the death of Ronnie Barker, who was such...

If life were fair, Dan Quayle would be making a living asking 'Do you want...

If life were fair, Dan Quayle would be making a living asking 'Do you want...

If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes...

If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes...

But then acting is all about faking. We're all very good at faking things that...

But then acting is all about faking. We're all very good at faking things that...

I find it rather easy to portray a businessman. Being bland, rather cruel and incompetent...

I find it rather easy to portray a businessman. Being bland, rather cruel and incompetent...

A man will give up almost anything except his suffering.

A man will give up almost anything except his suffering.

I want to write a book which is the history of comedy.

I want to write a book which is the history of comedy.

The English contribution to world cuisine - the chip.

The English contribution to world cuisine - the chip.