Ricky Gervais Quotes

With 'The Office' and 'Extras' I've always snuck in a little bit of heart and pathos - and drama, which is fun.

There's a difference between a job and a career - if you're the boss you don't stop at six o'clock, you have to worry about everything all the time.

You see reality TV and it's not reality TV. It's contrived and everything is plotted and scripted nearly. Documentaries are the same and just as bad.

You try to make characters you care about, and I think realism helps. Even though this is a high concept, the characters have got to be real.

I still see myself as a bit of a cottage industry. Being in a room creating stuff and seeing if anyone wants it, as opposed to going to work for someone.

A world without any lies at all is not a good world, because it's artless and because there are no white lies, no flattery.

Americans are brought up to believe they can grow up to be the president of the United States. Brits are told, It won't happen to you.

There's nothing as perfect as the initial idea. And the only reason I write and direct is to protect the writing, because that's what's most precious.

I think sometimes you get given a good pile of goodwill, and it's whether you use it up in the first six months or spread it out over a career.

I had great memories of growing up in a working class estate. I remember it being sunny all the time. So we're putting that on screen. It's not people wallowing in degradation.

I never had a plan. I just sort of ambled along, doing exactly what I wanted every day of my life.

I don't live by "The Rules" you know, and if there's one person who has influenced me in that way of thinking, someone who is a maverick, someone who does 'that' to the system then it's Ian Botham.

I never think of myself as a celebrity - or even an actor, actually. I think of myself as a writer-director.

Even if it's such a lowly art as TV, you've got to get stuff off your chest, because that's what makes something different and original, your particular take on stuff.

Hollywood is responsible for some of the greatest and worst movies of all time!

Thank you God for making me an atheist.

I'm not a film snob at all. I much prefer a really good Hollywood blockbuster than a thought-provoking art house movie because entertainment is sort of where it's at.

When you get back into the editing suite in the cold light of day, the written stuff is better.

Most people sitting at home aren't cool, successful, witty Hollywood stars, but they all worry about what people think of them when they faux pas.

I never understood redemption when I was young. Even before I was an atheist, I always thought with the prodigal son, "well, why's he getting the special treatment?"

You won’t burn in hell. But be nice anyway.

Remember, when you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It is only painful for others.The same applies when you are stupid.