Did I say that?Morrissey, singer, 49
1980s Morrissey studio photographMorrissey, solo-artist and former lead singer with The Smiths photographed in the 1980s. Photograph: Sheila Rock/Rex Features
On performing liveI think it's the only time in my life I feel right. I'm not sure if I even exist off-stage (2007)
On the futureI don't want to go on much longer, really. I think that would suggest a lack of imagination (2009)
On his legacyIf I were knocked down tomorrow by a passing train, I would be considered the most important artist ever in the history of English pop music. That's just a rough guess (1991)
On being worshippedI can understand it when somebody writes to me by every post, and sends me their underwear, and feels that enormous degree of painful obsession. And I wholly encourage it (1987)
On having his Man United hat stolen as youngsterI thought, "It's a very cruel world, I'm not prepared for this." And I decided to get my revenge on society (1988)
On animal rightsIn China, cats and dogs are skinned alive for the fur industry. Come, come, nuclear bomb (2005)
On race relations
I don't think black people and white people will ever really get on. The French will never like the English, the English will never like the French. That tunnel will collapse (1992)
On being vegetarianI can't bring myself to sit at any table where flesh is eaten. Unless, of course, it's human flesh (2005)
On George MichaelIf he had to live my life for five minutes, he'd strangle himself with the nearest piece of cord (1988)
On passionFor me, going into Ryman's [stationery shop] is the most extreme sexual experience one could ever have (1985)
On wearing furIt's always women who wear fur - never men. Men invent wars, women wear fur (2006)
On self-beliefIf a plane crashed at 38,000ft, within 10 minutes I'd be walking [safely] on the ground. And if there were eight survivors and one had to be eaten, it wouldn't be me (1997)
On the height of his fameI could've hosted The Generation Game. Or 3-2-1. I could've done anything in 1984 (1986)
On his target audienceThe audience I am trying to reach are champion figure skaters. I think they need me the most (2006)
Observer
