+ I just wanted to find out where the boundaries were. I've found out there aren't any. I wanted to be stopped but no one will stop me.

+ It works much better than I imagined. I was slightly worried that we'd end up with an Ali G ring. (Hirst talking about his diamond skull work)

+ As an artist you’re looking for universal triggers. You want it both ways. You want it to have an immediate impact, and you want it to have deep meanings as well. I’m striving for both. But I hate it when people write things that sound like they’ve swallowed a fucking dictionary.

+ Painting is so poetic, while sculpture is more logical and scientific and makes you worry about gravity.

+ I was brought up a Catholic, but I don’t believe in God. I think I’m an atheist. Hardcore atheist. I’m trying to be a hardcore atheist, and then I keep making work like this.

+ I think art is good at looking back and looking forward. I don't think art is good at looking head-on. At the end of the day, people are more important than paintings.

+ I did a load of medicine cabinets a long time ago and I named them after Sex Pistols songs. I suppose I must be getting old if I’m naming work after Philip Larkin poems.