You've really got to get down on the floor with yourself and get low in order to make great art. I think you've just got to accept who you are and do the most unbelievable things.

A painting probably is the most shocking increase in value, from what it costs to make to what you sell it for.

But I think it's more that when you're young, you're invincible, you're immortal - or at least you think you are. The possibilities are limitless, you're inventing the future. Then you get older and suddenly you have a history. It's fixed. You can't change anything. I find that a bit disturbing, to be honest.

But whenever I look at the question of how to live, the answer's always staring me in the face. I'm already doing it.

The goal in life is to be solid, whereas the way that life works is totally fluid, so you can never actually achieve that goal.

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.

It's amazing what you can do with an E in A-Level art, a twisted imagination and a chainsaw.