British Quotes

The early ELP albums were pioneering in a way.

Making a comeback is one of the most difficult things to do with dignity.

I would like to involve myself in some black music. I would like to do some blues and some gospel music. I want to try stuff from other genres and try to widen my musical base.

I just got a call one day from Ringo asking me if I wanted to go out on the tour. It was as simple as that. He was putting together this band and he heard of me in the context of doing this and he gave me a call. I jumped at the chance.

As I said to Ringo, I was in a successful Rock N Roll band. He was in a band that changed the world. That's the difference.

When you are in a band for a number of years you loose your identity in a way. You become a part of that band and then all of a sudden you are not part of that band. You are still the band without the other two members.

Philosophically, what I have learned is to thy own self be true. That is the biggest lesson of all. Relax; music is fun. To many people take it to seriously because of the money involved.

I don't think art is a goal orientated business. I don't do things for the challenges, I only do them because I love them, I'm not really a goal orientated, achiever type of person.

The greatest music is made for love, not for money.

I feel with ELP that I wasn't making the most of my life and I wasn't making the most of my creativity. I was marking time. I don't want to do that. Life is to short.

There is no standing still because time is moving forward.

Society is based on the assumption that everyone is alike and no one is alive.

Bacon's not the only thing that's cured by hanging from a string.

Friends are God's apology for relations.

Then there is the worst part of Christianity, which is awful: power, corruption, manipulation... But then again, these feature are ever present in any organization.

The problem with Bush is that yes, he's religious in a fundamentalist sort of way, they read the Old Testament as a sort of charter for the chosen people to do what they like.

Some people are genetically programmed to be difficult.

If we are really anxious not to have nuclear weapons in Iran, the first thing is to call an international conference on abolishing all nuclear weapons, including Israeli nuclear weapons.

I want to be optimistic because I don't think man is intrinsically violent.

My approach is always to try to be straight with people, especially about what my party can achieve.

Music and politics are in essence about communication. Without over-stretching the analogy I do feel a sense of rhythm is important in getting your message across.

It is true that I entered parliament at the age of 23, and have now been representing the people of my constituency for over twenty years.

Immigrants provide skills that we simply cannot afford to do without. They have contributed hugely to Britain's success.

If you were to describe me as teetotal, on behalf of my constituency I'd have to sue; that would lose me every vote in the Highlands.

I'm a lifelong believer in trade unionism.

I'm a fully paid-up member of the human race.

I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.

I want to see far more decisions taken far closer to the patients, the passengers and the pupils. Far more power for locally and regionally elected politicians who understand best the needs of their areas. And far more say too for the dedicated staff at all levels in health and education.

I think that former leaders are best seen occasionally and not too often heard - particularly on the subject of their successors!

I should do something about the cigarettes; I quite accept that it's bad for your health, but you know a moderate tipple is positively beneficial and, at certain times, absolutely essential.