My strength was that I am more balanced and calmer than most other riders.

I inherited that calm from my father, who was a farmer. You sow, you wait for good or bad weather, you harvest, but working is something you always need to do.

If I had been born with an aggressive character, then maybe my palmares would have been longer.

Everybody tells me that I never look as if I'm suffering. But, when I watch videotapes of a race, I always remember the pain I had to endure.

I did try to win a sixth, but it was not to be.

To be free and to live a free life - that is the most beautiful thing there is.

Sooner or later a rider will emerge who will win more Tours. In every sport we have seen how the records eventually get broken and cycling is no exception.

I didn't feel I had to prove anything more.

If not for her truly sparkling personality, she would have been doomed.

Never underestimate a septuagenarian with time on his hands.

This squirrel is inadequately afraid of humans! Squirrel, I am a threat to you! We are enemies! Please get off my bench! Oh, god! Oh, god! Don't touch me—oh, god!

If you pour some music on whatever's wrong, it'll sure help out.

Will interrupted. "Henry," he said, "you're on fire. You do know that, don't you?

The pursuit of individual happiness within those limits prescribed by social conditions, is the first requisite to the attainment of the greatest general happiness.

I think there is this sensation of being deprived of something that you are entitled to have.

For me, love is the never-ending question. It is confusing. It is the answer, but it is also inundated with contradictions and complications.

You can't live in the past, musically if you do, you are dead.

There has to be a measure of difficulty or problem-solving in travel for it to be worthwhile.