In the first act, you get the audience's attention - once you have it, they will repay you in the second. Play through the laughs if you have to. It will only make the audience believe there are so many of them that they missed a few.

I can take any amount of criticism, as long as it is unqualified praise.

Someday I suspect, when Jesus has definitely got me for a sunbeam, my works may be adequately assessed.

Labour leaders lead us all, though we know they bleed us all. Cheer our new Decline and Fall, Gibbon might have dreamed it all.

My life really has been one long extravaganza.

If he (Peter O'Toole) had been any prettier it would have been Florence of Arabia.

Familiarity breeds contempt, but without a little familiarity it's impossible to breed anything.