George Michael Quotes

I have never felt any ethnic connection between the Greeks and me other than how hairy I am.

- George Michael

Ethnic, Other, Felt, Greeks

In the years when HIV was a killer, any parent of an openly gay person was terrified. I knew my mother well enough that she would spend every day praying that I didn't come across that virus. She'd have worried like that.

- George Michael

Parent, Every Day, Virus, HIV

Because of the media, the way the world is perceived is as a place where resources and time are running out. We're taught that you have to grab what you can before it's gone. It's almost as if there isn't time for compassion.

- George Michael

Resources, Before, Almost, Perceived

I had been obsessed with insects and creepy-crawlies: I used to get up at five o'clock in the morning and go out into this field behind our garden and collect insects before everyone else got up, and suddenly, all I wanted to know about was music. It just seemed a very, very strange thing.

- George Michael

Behind, Been, Very, Strange Thing

With pop stars or film stars, we become the object of people's self-definition, as well as the object of sexual definition.

- George Michael

Well, Pop, Pop Stars, Film Stars

Even though it's become a really cliched thing to see musicians working for charity, it's still effective and it still has to be done.

- George Michael

Musicians, Still, Though, Cliched

Everything was going my way. I was happily marching into the history books. Then it all just fell apart.

- George Michael

History, Going, Then, Marching

I don't consider Americans bullies, but I do consider the American government bullying.

- George Michael

Government, American, Bullies

The '90s were a bit of a disaster for me in so many ways. On a personal level, I don't think I could have toured. Also, I had some physical problems with my back that are now sorted and I just wasn't in the right state of mind.

- George Michael

Back, Some, Personal Level, Sorted

In terms of my work, I've never been reticent in terms of defining my sexuality. I write about my life.

- George Michael

My Life, Sexuality, Been, Defining

I would advise any gay person that being out in the real sense can never happen too soon.

- George Michael

Sense, Happen, Real Sense, Advise

I'm the luckiest writer on earth.

- George Michael

Earth, Writer, Luckiest

I had very little fear about it, but basically, my straight friends talked me out of it. I think they thought as I was bisexual, there was no need to. But it's amazing how much more complicated it became because I didn't come out in the early days. I often wonder if my career would have taken a different path if I had.

- George Michael

Very, Became, Early Days, Early

I never minded being thought of as a pop star. People have always thought I wanted to be seen as a serious musician, but I didn't, I just wanted people to know that I was absolutely serious about pop music.

- George Michael

Thought, Star, Always, Pop Star

I never really told my parents that I wanted to be a pop star or anything. They just knew that I was totally obsessed with music. Funnily enough, my father always used to say that he didn't think I could sing.

- George Michael

Father, Anything, Used, Pop Star

It's strange. At some point in your career, the situation between yourself and the camera reverses. For a certain number of years, you court it and you need it, but ultimately, it needs you more, and it's a bit like a relationship. The minute that happens, it turns you off... and it does feel like it is taking something from you.

- George Michael

Career, Feel, Some, Camera

Anybody who fights for human rights or to make this world a better place. Nurses, doctors, teachers: these are the people who deserve the credit these days.

- George Michael

Deserve, Better Place, Nurses

Is my body a temple, or is my life a temple? I'm definitely in the latter category, and I think my life has been better since thinking that way.

- George Michael

My Life, Think, Been, Category

The truth is my love life has been a lot more turbulent than I have let on.

- George Michael

Love, Been, Lot, Turbulent

I realised those things my ego needed - fame and success - were going to make me terribly unhappy. So I wrenched myself away from that. I had to. I had to walk away from America and say goodbye to the biggest part of my career because I knew, otherwise, my demons would get the better of me.

- George Michael

Career, Away, Needed, Demons

I had to walk away from America, and say goodbye to the biggest part of my career, because I knew otherwise my demons would get the better of me.

- George Michael

Career, Away, Otherwise, Demons

I don't have joy in watching myself, whereas, actually, I quite like listening to my own music.

- George Michael

Listening, My Own, Like, Whereas

The fact I had my father as an adversary was such a powerful tool to work with. I subconsciously fought him to the degree that I drove me to be one of the most successful musician in the world.

- George Michael

Work, Fact, Subconsciously, Adversary

The first sign of real obsession with music was with an old wind-up gramophone that mum had thrown out into the garage. My parents gave me three old 45s - two Supremes records and one Tom Jones record - and I used to come home from school literally every day, go out to the garage, wind this thing up, and play them.

- George Michael

Play, Records, Mum, Wind

The press seemed to take some delight that I previously had a 'straight audience,' and set about trying to destroy that. And I think some men were frustrated that their girlfriends wouldn't let go of the idea that George Michael just hadn't found the 'right girl.'

- George Michael

Some, I Think, Frustrated, Girlfriends

There are so many things and so many aspects to gay life that I've discovered and so many things to write about. I have a new life, and I have a new take on dance music because of that life.

- George Michael

New, Discovered, Aspects, Dance Music

I was brought up when media still kept totally away from violence when it came to children. I don't think it would have made me scared of violence, but I find it repulsive.

- George Michael

Think, Still, Repulsive, Scared

I mean, I've done different things at different times that I shouldn't have done, once or twice, you know.

- George Michael

Done, Twice, Times, Different Things

Not many people are really that meticulous with what they do, I suppose, but I'm just a control freak and terribly afraid of failure or regret. I work very hard on these things.

- George Michael

Work, Regret, Very, Control Freak

I have never thought about my sexuality being right or wrong. To me it has always been a case of finding the right person.

- George Michael

Thought, Always, Been, Case

I can't bear Catholicism.

- George Michael

Bear, Catholicism

Celebrity and secrets don't go together. The bastards will get you in the end.

- George Michael

Celebrity, Will, Get, In The End

I am really not interested or excited by repeating former successes.

- George Michael

I Am, Excited, Successes, Repeating

I knew, regardless of anything else, singing in front of an orchestra was going to be inspirational. It would feed me.

- George Michael

Singing, Going, Knew, Orchestra

Apart from some of the videos and haircuts, I don't think I've made any wrong moves, ha ha!

- George Michael

Think, Some, Made, Apart

Your political system is actually too democratic. The fact that Americans vote on every bill and proposition can prolong bigotry indefinitely, especially where it is aimed at minority groups.

- George Michael

Fact, Indefinitely, Bill, Minority

I want to make a pop album - something more upbeat than my stuff was in the '90s.

- George Michael

More, Album, Pop, Upbeat

I'm 10-12 years into life as an out gay man, and I'm a different person. I think there are things about my journey that might be useful to other people, and coming up with a hit record on its own doesn't seem to be enough anymore.

- George Michael

Own, Other, I Think, My Journey

I have no belief in The Bible or religion, but I think Armageddon was a lucky guess. I honestly think it's going to happen.

- George Michael

Think, Lucky, Happen, Armageddon

I'm surprised that I've survived my own dysfunction, really.

- George Michael

Own, My Own, Survived, Surprised

I've been very well remunerated for my talents over the years so I really don't need the public's money.

- George Michael

Over, Been, Very, Talents

I try very hard to thank my lucky stars and keep it all in proportion and perspective, but it can be very tiring having a smiley face all day.

- George Michael

Lucky, Very, Having, Tiring

I still believe that music is one of the greatest gifts that God gave to man.

- George Michael

Music, Still, Gave, Greatest Gifts

I've achieved what every artist wants, which is that some of their work will outlive them.

- George Michael

Artist, Some, Which, Outlive

Of course, I want to sell this record - there's no point making it otherwise.

- George Michael

Want, Making, Otherwise, No Point

My American gay audience have continued to dance and sing to the music I make in a way that straight Americans haven't. I am grateful to them for that.

- George Michael

Grateful, American, Audience, Gay

My depression at the end of Wham! was because I was beginning to realise I was gay, not bi.

- George Michael

Beginning, End, Realise, Gay

I spent the first half of my career being accused of being gay when I hadn't had anything like a gay relationship.

- George Michael

Career, Like, Half, Gay

For some strange reason, my gay life didn't get easier when I came out. Quite the opposite happened, really.

- George Michael

Reason, Some, Opposite, Gay

It's absolutely essential that we have the same safeguards that straight couples do. But I want more than a 50 percent chance of success. I don't want to emulate that.

- George Michael

Chance, More, Safeguards, Essential

English people have seen me get through scandals.

- George Michael

Through, Get, Scandals, English People

The whole business is built on ego, vanity, self-satisfaction, and it's total crap to pretend it's not.

- George Michael

Business, Crap, Total, Self-Satisfaction

When you are trying to express things with metaphors and much more subtlety, that's when you are doing yourself a disservice by making a video.

- George Michael

Doing, Making, Subtlety, Metaphors

I know I have a very self-destructive tendency since my mother died, I have got to be honest.

- George Michael

Mother, Very, Tendency, To Be Honest

In the very early days of Wham! the attention felt great, but I do wonder how much freedom I gave away by trying to become something I wasn't.

- George Michael

Away, Very, Early Days, Wonder

Deep down, my ego always thought that I would outlast a lot of people that I was competing against.

- George Michael

Deep, Always, Competing, Outlast

I've never done anything so political before. I've spent years shouting my mouth off about serious issues over dinner tables but never really had the confidence to express my views in a song.

- George Michael

Political, Before, About, Views

I watch people who are not driven by creativity any more, and I think how dull it must be to produce the same kind of thing. If you don't feel you're reaching something new, then don't do it.

- George Michael

Feel, I Think, Reaching, Dull

I don't really have any traits that I deplore. I get annoyed with myself sometimes, but that's about it.

- George Michael

Myself, Get, Traits, Annoyed

I think for most of us, our biggest frailties are sexual.

- George Michael

Think, I Think, Most, Sexual

If someone really wants to hurt you, they'll find a way whatever. I don't want to live my life worrying about it.

- George Michael

My Life, Want, Worrying, Hurt

I have got other interests than just making music. I would like to follow those interests through.

- George Michael

Through, Other, Making, Interests

If I can just live further from the spotlight I think that'll be better for all really.

- George Michael

Think, I Think, Really, Further

It's only when the kids are in their late twenties that families really face up to what they are.

- George Michael

Face, Late, Twenties, Families

I used to believe that George Michael was a total actor. It was self-defeating, because it made me also feel fraudulent.

- George Michael

Feel, Made, Also, Self-Defeating

I'm not a novelty act from the '80s in most parts of the world.

- George Michael

World, Act, Most, Parts

I left school at 17 and was a star by the time I was 18 - in certain parts of the world anyway.

- George Michael

World, Star, By The Time, Parts

I went to prison, I paid my bill.

- George Michael

Prison, Bill, Paid

Stars are almost always people that want to make up for their own weaknesses by being loved by the public and I'm no exception to that.

- George Michael

Exception, Always, Almost, Make Up

I'd been out to a lot of people since 19. I wish to God it had happened then. I don't think I would have the same career - my ego might not have been satisfied in some areas - but I think I would have been a happier man.

- George Michael

Career, Some, Been, Happened

I have to believe that somebody up there thinks I've still got some work to do.

- George Michael

Work, Some, Still, Thinks

I went through a long period where I was afraid of doing things I wanted to do, and you get your courage back, which is what's important.

- George Michael

Through, Which, Period, Long Period

I'm not anti-American. I've lived with Kenny, a Texan, for six years.

- George Michael

Lived, Six, Texan, Anti-American

I owe my mother who I am, and my father my drive.

- George Michael

Mother, Father, I Am, Owe

If you don't feel you're reaching something new, then don't do it.

- George Michael

New, Feel, Then, Reaching

I think the media is a real demon.

- George Michael

Media, Think, I Think, Demon

It's almost required with major artists that there's some duality. And I've got duality everywhere.

- George Michael

Some, Major, Almost, Everywhere

I spent years growing up being told what my sexuality was.

- George Michael

Growing, Sexuality, Spent, Growing Up

I don't really think that there is anyone in the modern pop business who I feel I want to spar with.

- George Michael

Business, Think, Want, Pop

I do want people to know that the songs that I wrote when I was with women were really about women. And the songs that I've written since have been fairly obvious about men.

- George Michael

Want, Been, Wrote, Obvious

A lot of people like me, who've been around for years and years and years, only really lose it in their forties and fifties.

- George Michael

Lose, Like, Been, Years And Years

It takes so much strength to say to your ego, 'You know what? You're going to keep me lonely, so I have to ignore you.'

- George Michael

Strength, Say, Going, Much

The media has affected everybody's consciousness much more than most people will admit.

- George Michael

Admit, Everybody, Most, Affected

I'd like to say things are bound to get better, but I don't really believe it.

- George Michael

Better, Like, Get, Bound

I've written a whole body of work that I'm incredibly proud of.

- George Michael

Work, Proud, Whole, Incredibly

I'm not stupid enough to think that I can deal with another 10 or 15 years of major exposure. I think that is the ultimate tragedy of fame... People who are simply out of control, who are lost. I've seen so many of them, and I don't want to be another cliche.

- George Michael

Stupid, Deal, I Think, Cliche

You'll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart.

- George Michael

Mind, Never, Find, Listen

I don't want to look at other people my age in leather. Why would I put it on?

- George Michael

Want, Other, Would, Leather

No one wants to look wholesome at 21!

- George Michael

Look, Wants, Wholesome

My ego is sated.

- George Michael

Ego

I know that I sound self-satisfied, and I know that I've got an ego, but I don't have an ego problem.

- George Michael

Problem, Sound, Know, Ego

There is no such thing as a reluctant star.

- George Michael

Star, Thing, Reluctant

There are things about my mum that I only realised later, things that make me admire her.

- George Michael

Admire, About, Mum, Realised

I've always been the porky boy in my head.

- George Michael

Head, Always, Been, Boy

I define my sexuality in terms of the people that I love.

- George Michael

Love, Sexuality, I Love, Terms

I really have no plans for any kind of career in TV or anything, but if I wanted to become good at it, I could. But I don't really think it's in the cards.

- George Michael

Career, Think, TV, Cards

There's no comfort in the truth, pain is all you'll find.

- George Michael

Truth, Pain, Find, Comfort

I have more love, success, and security than I could ever dream of.

- George Michael

Love, Dream, Ever, Security

I have the audience I deserve. Or at least I have the audience that represents the kind of people that I like.

- George Michael

Deserve, Like, Represents, Audience

You can't imagine what it's like playing to people who have been loyal to you for 25 years and haven't seen you for 15.

- George Michael

Like, Been, Imagine, Loyal

I find it too terrifying to go out in L.A.

- George Michael

Go, Find, Too, Terrifying

I'm lucky to be alive.

- George Michael

Alive, Lucky

It's important to me that I should be free to express myself.

- George Michael

Myself, Me, Important, Express

I write about my life.

- George Michael

My Life, Write, About, I Write

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