Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by John Cleese (British Comic Actor, Writer)

John Marwood Cleese (b.1939) is a British actor, writer, and comic trendsetter known for his surreal portrayal of everyday life. His work as a comedian ranges from a rare sophisticated stage comedy to surreal, odd humor characteristic of British comedy linked to the radio Goon Show, the college revue, and the variety stage.

Born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, Cleese studied law at Cambridge, where he joined the Footlights Revue (1963,) subsequently performing with them in London, New Zealand and New York. He appeared in the Broadway production of Half a Sixpence (1965) and returned to the England to write and perform in such television series as David Frost’s The Frost Report (1966) and At Last the 1948 Show (1967.) With Graham Chapman, he wrote scripts for television (Doctor in the House, 1968) and film (The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, 1970.)

Cleese then joined Monty Python‘s Flying Circus (1969–74,) an anarchistic series that changed the face of British television humor with its surreal comedy and animated graphics. The Monty Python team later collaborated on such films as Life of Brian (1979) and Meaning of Life (1983.)

Cleese had further success as the writer and star of the TV series Fawlty Towers (1975, 1979,) and the films A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and Fierce Creatures (1996.) Other films in which he has appeared include Clockwise (1985,) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001,) The World is Not Enough (1999,) and Die Another Day (2002.)

After three turbulent marriages, Cleese is currently in his fourth marriage—with his marital experiences, he has co-authored, with the British psychiatrist Robin Skynner, Families and How to Survive Them (1983) and Life and How to Survive It (1993.)

Cleese is the author of such much-admired books as So, Anyway… (2014) and Professor at Large: The Cornell Years (2018.)

More: Wikipedia READ: Works by John Cleese

A wonderful thing about true laughter is that it just destroys any kind of system of dividing people.
John Cleese

Play can only take place if it’s separate from ordinary life. Settle all those thoughts about the things you ought to be doing rather than trying to be creative. And then toss ideas around. Just start.
John Cleese

If I like chocolate it won’t surprise you that I have a few chocolates in my fridge, but if you find out I’ve got 16 warehouses full of chocolate, you’d think I was insane. All these rich guys are insane, obsessive compulsive twits obsessed with money—money is all they think about—they’re all nuts.
John Cleese

Because these people are operating at a very very low level of mental health, they are incapable of understanding the teaching.
John Cleese

I can certainly see that you know your wine. Most of the guests who stay here would not know the difference between Bordeaux and Claret.
John Cleese
Topics: Wine

I’m struck by how laughter connects you with people. It’s almost impossible to maintain any kind of distance or any sense of social hierarchy when you’re just howling with laughter. Laughter is a force for democracy.
John Cleese

For some it [comedy] might merely be a foolish infatuation, but for me—it’s the real thing.
John Cleese

If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth.
John Cleese
Topics: Laughter

Creativity is almost always: unlearned. Ask young children, “Are you creative?” They’ll all raise a hand. By age 16, none of them will because they’ve had their creativity gently squeezed out of them by those who think conventionally.
John Cleese

If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.
John Cleese
Topics: Work

He who laughs most learns best.
John Cleese

When you get to my age, and I’m 66 now, you realize that the world is a madhouse and that most people are operating in fantasy anyway. So once you realize that, it doesn’t bother you much.
John Cleese

Wondering Whom to Read Next?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *