When I was young and we got caught pinching apples, we got a smack from the local policeman. Today if that happened he would be sued. There is a tendency to punish the victim, not the criminal. If someone broke into my house or my mum's house, I worry that the burglar has more rights than me.
Simon CowellPraise a stranger with a few nice words and he becomes a stranger that calls you a friend.
Simon CowellThe young people working for me are ambitious and hard-working. That work ethic has always been a trait of the British.
Simon CowellI don't like people who are hypocritical, who pretend to be nice, particularly in show business when they're nice on camera, and then off camera they're absolutely appalling to the makeup people, or the waitress in a restaurant, you know? I don't like - I can't bear those kind of people. So I like people who are, you know, up front in your face.
Simon CowellIf your lifeguard duties were as good as your singing, a lot of people would be drowning.
Simon CowellNo, what I am doing is kind by telling people who are useless, "Do something that you're good at".
Simon CowellOn one level, going bust didn't bother me. It was the 80s, and there wasn't the stigma about bankruptcy that you might think. My mates weren't bothered. My dad was in business.. he knew that it happened, too. He loaned me the money to bail me out, and I got a loan from the bank to pay him back.
Simon Cowell