One of the most important days of my life was when I learned to ride a bicycle. Michael Palin More Quotes by Michael Palin More Quotes From Michael Palin First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more-no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it. Michael Palin naughtysighthands People look for patterns in everything. It's what keeps us sane, I suppose. I struggle to see any patterns in my life. I think I can understand depression a bit because of my sister. My own feelings of ... I'm aware that, if you feel down, it can be strangely unrelated to circumstances around you. That's just the way life is. Michael Palin strugglepeoplethinking There are people who travel because they want to push themselves to physical limits, people who walk across deserts or cycle across the Antarctic - like Ranulph Fiennes, who just does it because it's there. And then there are people like me, who are just genuinely curious about the world. Michael Palin desertdoepeople I remember queuing around the block in Sheffield when I was growing up. At that time, going to the cinema was really something special - there was something about the style of the real thing that is immeasurable nicer than multiplexes. Michael Palin growing-upblockreal I will die, but not retire. Michael Palin retiringdies If atheists are deaf to the word of God, then theists are blind to the ways of man. Michael Palin atheistmenreligion I saw novelists as being admirable people and I thought... I thought... maybe, one day, I could be one of them. Michael Palin novelistsone-daypeople I have been unusually blessed in that I've been allowed to pursue two strands of a career that both delight me and seem to please the public. Michael Palin careersblessedtwo Night falls over Machu Picchu to the sound of Abba's 'Dancing Queen'. Michael Palin queensnightfall The kids growing up is a separate strand to your life. However bad a day you've had, that's the most important thing, and you have to remember that. Michael Palin dayyourememberlife Fame changes everything. When you're well-known, you're expected to be different. Some people assume you must have a yacht and four homes. Or that you're famous because you are 'A Decent Man'. Michael Palin some-peopleyoumanpeople I do have high standards. I look at everything I have done and think, 'Why wasn't that better?' Part of my motivation is from crippling self-doubt - I have got to prove myself wrong. Michael Palin bettermyselflookthink I've always been blessed, or cursed, some might say, with an insatiable curiosity, a desire to find something out about a people and a place. That's where it all begins. Michael Palin placecuriosityblessedpeople I don't seek discomfort. But, very often, you realise that what you fear is actually quite ephemeral; something's different, something's unfamiliar; therefore, it must be worse. Michael Palin somethingyoudifferentfear I was very bad at projecting my voice. I used to do this Gumby Flower Arranging sketch which involved shouting, and I could never do it right, and at one point my voice went completely. Michael Palin sketchbadvoiceflower Something about John Cleese was always very unsettled, I felt. There was always something else he wanted to do. He seemed constantly driven by this sense that there was a nirvana somewhere; some unique place where mind, body and soul would be utterly satisfied. Michael Palin placeuniquesoulmind I think you learn a lot about a country from its art. To me, it's part of the drama of life. It teaches you that there are places, moments and incidents in other cultures that genuinely have a life of their own. Michael Palin meyoulifeart I've never had a particular skill. I can't cook, dance, play an instrument, speak a foreign language. This used to worry me. I'd think, when I'm grown up, at 18, then I made it 21, it will be clear what role I should have in life. It never happened. I never signed on the dotted line as the sort of adult my father wanted. Michael Palin medancelifefather I'm not your expert on Africa or animals or whatever. I'm not a travel writer or maker of documentaries. I was someone who doesn't know very much, trying to communicate. Michael Palin yoursomeoneknowtravel
