I try hard not to preach, but I get carried away, which is a mistake, but it’s a risk worth running.

Meaning of the quote

Ben Elton, a famous British comedian, says that he tries not to give long speeches or lectures, but sometimes he can't help himself and gets too carried away. He admits this is a mistake, but he thinks it's worth the risk because it's important to him to express his thoughts and opinions.

About Ben Elton

Ben Elton is a renowned British comedian, author, and playwright who was part of the alternative comedy movement in the 1980s. He has written numerous successful novels and musicals, covering a range of genres from dystopian to comedy and crime.

More about the author

More quotes from Ben Elton

No collection of people who are all waiting for the same thing are capable of holding a natural conversation. Even if the thing they are waiting for is only a taxi.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

People who get through life dependent on other people’s possessions are always the first to lecture you on how little possessions count.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

The earth only has so much bounty to offer and inventing ever larger and more notional prices for that bounty does not change its real value.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

I’m easy to work with, not a pushover, but I respond to criticism and find it inspiring.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

I try hard not to preach, but I get carried away, which is a mistake, but it’s a risk worth running.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

We’ve all got to look at ourselves, start with yourself, that’s all you can do. I believe that we can act responsibly as a group, it’s just that there are vested interests telling us not to bother.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

If only the strength of the love that people feel when it is reciprocated could be as intense and obsessive as the love we feel when it is not; then marriages would be truly made in heaven.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

My advice to anyone adapting a novel is that once they’ve read it and learnt to understand it, then they must throw it away and never look at it again!

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

Sympathy for victims is always counter-balanced by an equal and opposite feeling of resentment towards them.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

Yes, OK, farty is a silly word. I wish I’d never used it. I’m 34. Perhaps it was a word for my 20s.

Ben Elton

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director