I have a definite talent for convincing people to try something new. I am a good salesman. When I'm on form, I can sell anything.

I'm actually an evangelical atheist, but there is something I recognise about religion: that it gives people a chance to surrender.

When our governments want to sell us a course of action, they do it by making sure it's the only thing on the agenda, the only thing everyone's talking about. And they pre-load the ensuing discussion with highly selected images, devious and prejudicial language, dubious linkages, weak or false 'intelligence' and selected 'leaks'.

Every increase in your knowledge is a simultaneous decrease. You learn and you unlearn at the same time. A new certainty is a new doubt as well.

I've had quite a lot of luck with dreams. I've often awoken in the night with a phrase or even a whole song in my head.

Cooking is a way of listening to the radio.

Reggie Watts is a most unusual talent: a huge vocal range, a natural musicality, and a sidesplitting wit. Is he a comedian? A singer? A performance artist? I've seen him a few times since then and I still can't decide. Whatever, he ain't like nobody else.