Michael Palin

Sir Michael Edward Palin, KCMG, CBE, FRGS, FRSGS (born 5 May 1943) is an English comedian, actor, television presenter and public speaker most famous as one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python, and as a presenter of travel documentaries.

The use of the word "just" by an Australian means that whatever it is you have to do, it will not be easy, as in "Just pull that sword out of the stone" or "Just split that atom."

Quotes

Contrary to what the politicians and religious leaders would like us to believe, the world won’t be made safer by creating barriers between people.

Armageddon is not around the corner. This is only what the people of violence want us to believe. The complexity and diversity of the world is the hope for the future.

• There are many ways of seeing the world. You can hang upside down from a meteor, volunteer to be the fourth stage of a three-stage rocket, or simply get in a balloon and keep going. But if it's sheer, unadulterated discomfort you're looking for, just stay on land.
  • Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days (1989)

• I wish them a long and happy life. If it's as long as their wedding, I'm sure they'll be fine.
  • Pole to Pole (1992)

• The use of the word "just" by an Australian means that whatever it is you have to do, it will not be easy, as in "Just pull that sword out of the stone" or "Just split that atom."
  • Full Circle with Michael Palin (1997)

• One of the difficult things of so much travelling is to say goodbye.
  • Sahara with Michael Palin (2002)

• Contrary to what the politicians and religious leaders would like us to believe, the world won't be made safer by creating barriers between people. Cries of “They’re evil, let’s get ‘em” or “The infidels must die” sound frightening, but they're desperately empty of argument and understanding. They're the rallying cries of prejudice, the call to arms of those who find it easier to hate than admit they might be not be right about everything.
  Armageddon is not around the corner. This is only what the people of violence want us to believe. The complexity and diversity of the world is the hope for the future.
  • "Letter from London" (18 September 2003)

Ripping Yarns (1976 - 1979)

Co-written with Terry Jones

• Tomkinson: What are these?
  Mother: Shoe trees, dear...
  • "Tomkinson's Schooldays"

• It's not a model if it's full-size. It's a ice-breaker!
  • "Tomkinson's Schooldays"

• I've got a false lip.
  • "Murder on Moorstones Manor"

Misattributed

• Nuns with banners!
  • This was a comment made about picketing of the film Monty Python's Life of Brian [1] but there is no reason to attribute it to Michael Palin.

External links

• Michael Palin profile at BBC Guide to Comedy
• Michael Palin profile at Comedy Zone
• Palin's Travels – official website for the travel series
• Michael Palin on IMDb
• Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children