Quotes

"Oh, stop messing about" (catch phrase)

Last words: "Oh, what's the bloody point?" (last entry in diary)

The thing to do, in any circumstance, is to appear to know exactly what you are doing and at the same time convey casual doubts about the abilities of everybody else and undermine their confidence. [In 1964]

This is very odd the way that Carry Ons are just starting to get mentioned: why are they suddenly fashionable? They're even starting to justify the bad scripts now! and talk about the classlessness of them. What hogwash! You can only call a mess a mess.

By 6:30 pain in the back was pulsating as it's never done before; so this, plus the stomach trouble combines to torture me - oh - what's the bloody point? - KW, last item in his diary before his death of an overdose

It's frightening to think, that with all the modern medicine and all the technique available to them, they can't really help you. I should think in the old days, you were better off, because nowadays they are all specialists. Everyone is becoming better and better, at less and less. Eventually someone is going to be superb, at nothing!

[on Dirty Harry (1971)] The morality behind the Don Siegel film is almost Homeric and epic. One man tries to do his job properly and when he does it for the last time under Promethean provocation, he resigns from the police force. It is the story of an individual conscience and it is beautifully shown. One is very glad that such pictures are being made and I hope they make a lot of money at the box office.

The nice thing about quotes is that they give us a nodding acquaintance with the originator which is often socially impressive.

People need to be peppered or even outraged occasionally. Our national comedy and drama is packed with earthy familiarity and honest vulgarity. Clean vulgarity can be very shocking and that, in my view, gives greater involvement.

I see myself as a roving mosquito, choosing it's target.

I found that if I got up on the stage to entertain the troops I could make them shut up and look.

We know grooming is important for people. To get their hair done, to get makeup and things like that - that makes a person feel better.

A fan club is a group of people who tell an actor he's not alone in the way he feels about himself.

Being nasty doesn't require intellect; any moron can be abusive. The distinguishing factor of great wit is to be nasty with style.

It was Noël Coward whose technique I envied and tried to emulate. I collected all his records and writing.

All problems have to be solved eventually by oneself, and that's where all your lovely John Donne stuff turns out to be a load of crap because, in the last analysis, a man is an island.

The quote, like opportunity, food and love, has got to come at the right moment. Blurted out, it can send your ego round your ankles.

Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me! (phrase from Carry on Cleo (1964))

Walked home via Aldwych. Reflected that nothing really changes. I'm still walking about this city dragging my loneliness with me, putting on a front, whistling in the dark. It is getting darker all the time.

This (Dr Zhivago) may be the Great Russian Novel, but it's a pain in the a*** as a film.

It's frightening to think with modern medicine and all the technique available to them, they can't really help you.

I know I'm male, and what's more I can prove it! (phrase from Carry on Matron (1972))

[Peasmold Gruntfuttock] We be doomed! Doomed! All doomed! I've got a touch of the Dooms!

Tonight I shall have the great pleasure, but before that...

[on Rodney Bewes] He doesn't do it maliciously, 'cos he's not ill-natured, he is unthinking: that's the problem.

And it is this drivel that these people talk about all day.

[on the acting couple Gordon Jackson and Rona Anderson]: Delightful as ever. A sweet most delectable pair whom I enjoy enormously.

Anyway, my mother was a Morgan, and my father was a Williams, so I suppose the ancestry can be said to be Welsh. But I don't like nationalism. The very IDEA of devolution is mad. I don't even like the sound of the Welsh language, and I think their insistence on retaining it is barmy. All those signs to be re-written! Can you imagine?