The only people with power today are the audience. And that is increasing with Twitter, Facebook, and everything else. We cater to their likes and dislikes, and you ignore that at your peril. Simon Cowell More Quotes by Simon Cowell More Quotes From Simon Cowell When someone asks, 'Does success make you into a monster?' I always say, 'No, it enables you to be a monster.' Simon Cowell halloween doe monsters We felt the time was right to open up the boundaries, and say to all of America, regardless of your age, whether you're 2, whether you're 100, regardless of what you believe your talent is - juggling, magic, singing - this is the show you can enter. It's as simple as that. Simon Cowell simple believe america Linda McCartney sausages were my favorite. Theyre much better than eating real sausages and you dont have to contemplate half way through exactly whats inside them. ... You can have them, a bit of fried bread, tinned tomatoes. Delicious. Simon Cowell tomatoes real bread You sounded like Dolly parton on helium." (After kristy lee cook of season 7 on american idol,sang her country rendition of the Beatles'"Eight Days A Week.) Simon Cowell eight idols country Maybe I am a bit mad. Simon Cowell bits mad insanity I honestly can't ever imagine retiring because I don't know what else I would do - even when I'm on holiday, 70% of the time I'm working. I think I'd like to go out on the job so, ideally, 'And the winner is... Ooooh, and he's gone!' Simon Cowell holiday jobs thinking Normally if I go to one of these things I'm in and out in five minutes, but at Pride of Britain I stay to the end. It's a fantastic show. But it's incredibly hard on the night when you meet all the kids and hear their stories. They do get to you. Simon Cowell pride night kids They understand what their market is and who they should be selling records to, and most importantly, they know the kind of artist that they want to be, but they have to do it themselves. You don't want a 13-year-old singing some awful song from a musical. Simon Cowell artist song years You have to be original. The people creating a buzz on YouTube are taking risks, and they're doing something different. I like it when 15 year-olds come on and tell me what to do rather than the other way around. Simon Cowell creating people years You have an advantage if you win. I always think it's best to be remembered as a winner rather than as the runner-up. It's definitely more fun getting the gold than it is the silver. Simon Cowell winning fun thinking I was so tired, wasn't having fun any more, and wasn't sure if I wanted to do this any longer. So I turned my phone off and sorted my head out. It was the opposite of a breakdown really, it was a break-up - I got rid of all the idiots, realised my job was supposed to be fun, and got on with my life. Simon Cowell tired fun jobs I've learned to deal with stress much better now, things don't bother me in the way that they once used to. Simon Cowell ive-learned stress way Well, it's basically the viewers who determine it. We - well, basically the producers and myself chose the people we felt had the best reaction, you know, through the press, the Internet, the people we thought deserved a second chance. And they've chosen a winner, I believe. Simon Cowell second-chance believe people I thought the first two seasons of America's Got Talent were good. I think this one is the best one by a mile because they - you see the difference this year, I think, with the crowd being effectively the fourth judge. But most importantly, I think that these shows have to have a relevance because if you're not finding stars at the back of these shows - whether it's Idol or Got Talent - they're a complete waste of time. Simon Cowell stars years thinking My heart, my lungs, my blood - they've all been checked. I remember one of the doctors almost being disappointed when he showed me the results because he couldn't wait to tell me what smoking was doing to me. But there was nothing there. Simon Cowell doctors heart blood There's one argument that says we shouldn't be putting these kids on under the age of 16. I think you've got to take it case by case. Simon Cowell age kids thinking I do see a big difference in the American work ethic compared to the British work ethic in a lot of artists. Simon Cowell work-ethic differences artist Anything I shouldn't laugh at makes me laugh. Simon Cowell make-me-laugh laughing If I had to say who is the number-one most powerful figure is in reality TV, it's very easy. It is the general public. They're the only people who have power now. Simon Cowell powerful numbers reality I'm a great believer in getting checked out because if you know you're OK, you actually feel better; your mind plays a big part of it. Simon Cowell feel-better mind play