“Researching the story of empire didn't make me hate Britain, rather it gave me a deeper sense of belonging because it made me realise that we (brown people) have been here for centuries.”
— Sathnam Sanghera
British journalist and author, wrote "The Boy with the Topknot

The quote archive

Culture

A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.

I've always believed that everyone can look like a magazine cover star. It's not about being born beautiful, it's about finding that moment, that light, that expression that makes you shine.

— Rankin

Scottish photographer and filmmaker known for provocative social documentary work

I think the democratisation of the image is probably one of the most important things that's happening right now. Everyone's a photographer now, everyone's got a camera, everyone's taking pictures. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean we have to be more critical about what we're looking at.

— Rankin

Scottish photographer and filmmaker known for provocative social documentary work

I don't care about legacy, it's an old idea because we don't consume time like we did before. Time is now simultaneous – before, it was linear. Today it is a wall in front of us. When time is a wall, there is no place for legacy.

— Philippe Starck

Renowned French Industrial Designer & Architect Known for Innovative Product Design

You know how difficult that is in a nightclub in New York at 5 in the morning? Everybody just stopped and started listening.

— Nile Rodgers

Legendary Guitarist & Producer: Chic Founder, Producer for David Bowie, Madonna

His practice engages the broader public sphere through architectural projects and interventions in civic space.

— Olafur Eliasson

Icelandic-Danish artist known for immersive light and weather installations

Cinema also exists within a framework of genre- and that can be challenging as genre can often flatten storytelling. It can also be a strength- when you play inside a genre- take the case of John le Carre for instance, he's a great novelist but works within the genre of spy-fiction, and transcends the usual narratives.

— Paul Greengrass

Director of Bourne action films and political thrillers

Working class life has been important to me; it's not a question of pity or disaster- but of enjoying the comedy, warmth and generosity of spirit that you find there – alongside the use of language, dialects, and the stories of childhood and old-age.

— Ken Loach

British Filmmaker Known for Social Realist Films & Political Advocacy

Contemporary photography is quite exploitative – and looks at people as objects in a display-case rather than as individuals with whom we have a shared common humanity, connection, and solidarity. Photography has gone from I am part of this, to look at this.

— Ken Loach

British Filmmaker Known for Social Realist Films & Political Advocacy

Politics and celebrity culture have always been deeply entwined. What happens in any society, country by country, is that we go through waves of celebrity focused and political focus. There's always been a blurring of the lines when it comes to the worlds of entertainment and politics.

— Perez Hilton

Celebrity gossip blogger and media personality known for celebrity news website

As a whole, I think the media is a little more respectful now than it has been. I, for example, have a no kids policy on my website meaning I won't use any paparazzi photos of celebrities' children, whether at a playground, or when they're being picked up from school.

— Perez Hilton

Celebrity gossip blogger and media personality known for celebrity news website

I just hope that those who become influencers make smart choices; it's the kind of attention that comes quickly and is very hard to maintain. The top 10 YouTubers 10 years ago are not the top 10 YouTubers now. There are a few people that remain, and who have maintained longevity, but for the most part, influencer culture is extremely short lived.

— Perez Hilton

Celebrity gossip blogger and media personality known for celebrity news website

For the most part, there are more average celebrities than superstars. When most people think of celebrities, they think of A-listers, but there's also B-list, C-list, D-list, F-list and even Z-list... he gets all the perks of celebrity, without much of the negativity that comes from being an A-lister.

— Perez Hilton

Celebrity gossip blogger and media personality known for celebrity news website

We have been interested in celebrities since the dawn of time. Jesus was the first celebrity, then the royal families.... It's human nature to be interested in the captain of the football team, the head cheerleader or who is doing what with who. It's human nature to be curious about those we perceive to be in elevated positions; not necessarily positions of power.

— Perez Hilton

Celebrity gossip blogger and media personality known for celebrity news website

The world of celebrity offers an escape from the real world, and offers different things to different people. To many, the celebrity world is aspirational, they imagine themselves living that lifestyle and dream of how it would be to go to that premiere, have that fancy house, or that expensive vacation. For others, the world of celebrity is like watching a car-wreck.

— Perez Hilton

Celebrity gossip blogger and media personality known for celebrity news website

Without the internet and globalization, Ai Weiwei, as you know him, would not possible. My art comes from those influences and the persistent struggle to understand our time.

— Ai Weiwei

Chinese Artist & Dissident; Prominent Human Rights Activist and Political Critic

Most people would have a nervous breakdown if they didn't have their phone for a day; I would have a total breakdown if there was no culture, no art. I couldn't live without art, it would be impossible.

— Tracey Emin

British artist known for provocative conceptual and autobiographical works