There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

I think there are a lot of people who really want to be famous, they really do. I don't. It sort of gets in the way of the everyday things that I do.

In other words, the celebrity gets out of hand, and if you're not careful, you will forget what you are about - and that is you are about making music that people want to hear.

Sometimes being famous gets in the way of doing what you want to do.

When I do an album I try to find a producer that's excited about something that they want me to sing, and I check with the record company to find out what they think they can sell - which is their No. 1 priority.

With comedy, you really want to work things out beforehand.

You know, in playing a role like this, you really want to get it right, because this is a person who was revered by so many doctors, women doctors especially.

Once in a century a man may be ruined or made insufferable by praise. But surely once in a minute something generous dies for want of it.

I didn't want my last chapter to be the guy who sits at the piano and sings love songs.

I want just to be happy and peaceful. And that's not always the case when you're married.

If you want to be happy, live discreetly. Does that make sense in English?

It's not only imagination, it's the distortion of the vision. You suddenly think, This person is idealistic, this person is strong, this person has dreams, when you know better most of the time. You put what you want to see on people.

Otherwise, to be a movie star, it's a lot of compromise and also a lot of headaches. You can't do what you want. You become a prisoner of your fame. This happened to me in France and I don't want it.

And what's more I've got no need for anyone to tell me how to do it. I am not interested. You act how you want to and leave me alone to do my own thing.

Before, I was so stupid. But, you know, when you have friends who died on the street, you say, okay, let's calm down. It's not the kind of energy I want to have in life. I want to go slower, and longer.