I have always been aware that you have to get people listening before you can change their minds. Any artist's big fear is being ignored, so if you get debate, that's great.

I think an ashtray is the most fantastically real thing.

Whenever I've been well-known or hitting the press, I've always had to get my credit card out to prove I'm Damien Hirst.

In fact, the first piece of art I ever sold, I paid someone else to make the next one, so I could actually keep going out drinking.

As a father, I would say I am more like a mother. I do a lot of hugging.

Never let money get in the way of an idea

I just wanted to find out where the boundaries were. So far I've found there aren't any. I just wanted to be stopped, and no one will stop me.