Buzz
Stephen Fry is a versatile figure—actor, author, poet, television presenter, and narrator. His prolific career is so extensive that there’s a Wikipedia page solely dedicated to documenting his achievements. His work consistently reflects a blend of humor, sharp intellect, and an open-hearted perspective on life, creating a rich tapestry of wisdom that is both quotable and worth deep reflection. Here, I’ve gathered some of my favorite quotes from Fry.
1. On the Nature of Incuriosity
"People remain ignorant simply because they lack the desire to learn. They are indifferent. Incuriosity is the strangest and most senseless flaw one can possess."
From The Fry Chronicles (Kindle Locations 1265-1266).
2. On the Role of Kindles
"The key idea is this: New technology doesn’t eliminate the old; it enhances it. Kindles don’t threaten books any more than elevators threaten stairs."
3. On the Importance of Cultural Diversity
"...Consider the type of people who most vehemently criticize the triviality and superficiality of celebrity culture. Do you truly want to align yourself with such self-righteous and tedious individuals? I speak from experience, as I often find myself slipping into that role, and it’s far from admirable. While I will always argue for the superiority of Mozart over Miley Cyrus, I also caution against creating false choices. You don’t have to pick one over the other; you can appreciate both. The cultural ecosystem should be as diverse and vibrant as the Amazon rainforest. Biodiversity enriches us all. We might value a puma more than a caterpillar, but we can agree that an environment capable of supporting both is far healthier. Monocultures are dreary and ultimately barren."
From The Fry Chronicles (Kindle Locations 3852-3857).
4. On the Magic of Libraries
"Their beauty lies in their accessibility—anyone can walk in, pick up a book, borrow it without cost, and immerse themselves in its pages. There’s no need to resort to stealing from a store. ... In your youth, libraries can feel almost thrilling, like places charged with an electric energy, because books are reservoirs of knowledge, making them feel mysterious and even a little perilous. You stumble upon books that leave you breathless, whispering, 'Wow!'"
From Fry's March 2001 appearance on Room 101.
5. On New Age Beliefs
When asked his opinion about a Dream Catcher:
"The term that really sets me off (though I don’t have the capacity to fully unleash the fury I feel when contemplating this) is 'energy,' especially when people start categorizing it as 'positive' or 'negative.' For example, 'There’s very negative energy in here.' What does that even mean? Let’s break it down. Energy, as we know it, is what powers cars when petrol burns. So, when someone says, 'This room has positive energy,' where is it going? It’s not moving anything. It’s just a cover for lazy, nonsensical thinking."
"And then there’s astrology. Most people dismiss it as 'harmless fun,' and in 80% of cases, it probably is. But there’s a darker side to it. For one, it’s deeply anti-science. You’ll hear statements like, 'Science doesn’t know everything.' Of course, science doesn’t know everything. But just because science hasn’t uncovered all mysteries doesn’t mean it knows nothing. Science has given us television, electricity, and incredible advancements in understanding the physical world. As Wittgenstein aptly put it, 'Even if we unravel every secret of the universe, the eternal mystery of the human heart will remain.'"
From Fry's March 2001 appearance on Room 101.
6. On the Habit of Smoking
"I’ve always associated smoking with intimacy, which might explain why I’ve been misguided all these years."
From The Fry Chronicles (Kindle Locations 439-440).
7. On the Nature of Clichés
"It’s often said that most clichés hold truth, but like many clichés, that statement itself is false. While sticks and stones may cause physical harm, words have the power to wound me deeply."
From Moab Is My Washpot (p. 113).
8. On His Singing Abilities
"At parties, I resort to miming during 'Happy Birthday'... or I mumble and growl so low that only creatures like moles, manta rays, and mushrooms might catch the sound."
"The frustrating part is that I’m not even tone-deaf—it’s the most infuriating, absurd, and ridiculous aspect of it all."
(Note: This section appears under the heading "I Can’t F***ing Join In" and above the heading "I’m Not Even Tone F***ing Deaf.")
From Moab Is My Washpot (pp. 85-86).
9. On Poetry and the Lack of Effort
"Poetry demands relentless effort. People struggle with it not because they lack talent, but because they underestimate the immense dedication it requires. It’s not as simple as ordering a pizza or engaging in mundane tasks. These days, only retirees and prisoners seem to invest the necessary time. We rush through life, barely savoring anything."
"It’s tempting to say, 'That’s good enough.' Everyone is in a rush. People are intellectually, morally, and ethically lazy..."
"...When people get angry at a traffic warden, they don’t pause to consider what it’s like to be in their shoes or how chaotic it would be if parking rules didn’t exist. People lazily criticize politicians for being hypocritical, yet everyone is guilty of it. We complain about high petrol prices while also worrying about global warming. We delegate the burden of thought and moral choices to others, then criticize them for not meeting our expectations."
From Fry’s interview with The Daily Telegraph promoting his book The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within.
10. On the Role of Critics
Photo: Getty Images. Quotation from Paperweight, via wongaBlog.
11. On Drugs and the Essence of Music
"LSD unveils the true nature of things—their essence, their 'whatness.' The fluidity of water, the texture of carpets, the grain of wood, the hue of yellow, the form of fingernails, the totality of existence, and the void within it all become apparent. For me, music offers a gateway to these profound truths, but at a fraction of the social or financial cost of drugs, and without the constant need to exclaim 'Wow!'—a side effect of LSD that is both exhausting and unappealing."
From Moab Is My Washpot (pp. 83-84). Random House Inc Clients. Kindle Edition.
12. On Self-Belief and Inner Strength
"I often placed my hand on my chest, feeling the rhythmic pulse of my heart and lungs beneath my asthmatic breath, marveling at the immense power within me. Not supernatural power, not the fantastical telekinetic abilities of a teenage fantasy, but real power. The power to persist, to endure—that alone is formidable. Yet, I also felt the power to create, to contribute, to inspire, to astonish, and to transform. Despite this, I felt overlooked, dismissed, and forgotten. My mother believed in me, as all mothers do, but no one else did."
"Most importantly—and it’s clear to me now—I didn’t believe in myself. I had more faith in ghosts than in me, and trust me, I never believed in ghosts. I’m too deeply emotional and spiritual to entertain the supernatural."
From Moab Is My Washpot (p. 381).
Exciting announcement: Next Wednesday is 12-12-12. To mark the occasion, we’re sharing 24 (!) lists of 12, posting one every hour at 12 minutes past, starting at 12:12am. Consider this a sneak peek.
