Englands a violent place. Too violent for me. Thats why I prefer it he — John Lydon

"Would the king of punks be a cliché? Oh, no, vicar."

"[On the lyrics of his songs] They meant a lot to my generation. And its nice to know youve written songs that mean something to someone rather than some trivial pop dirge. Im not thriving off a career slagging off the Queen. I think I have something valid to say. My words are my bullets. I like to brag that somehow I got it right."

"[Replying to the question of the presenter: "where did the name "Sex Pistols" come from, who thought this name up?"] Some animal. I cant remember. It doesnt matter. Its history."

"The only things I’ve ever confronted are institutions, religion, politics, but never my fellow human beings, and yet my fellow human beings find the need to defend those very things that are restricting their freedoms. God, that sounds like a speech. Should I run for president?"

"Ive never told anyone this, but I suffer from terrible stage fright. True. You cant tell though, can you? Unbelievable, the panic. I nearly die of fear before I go on stage. Something wicked. I cant eat a thing the day before a gig. Itd make me vomit. Once I come off? I could eat a scampied elephant between two buttered mattresses. But Im kinda glad about the stage fright. Ive read Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud about their terror. And I reckon its what gets the adrenalin going."

"Punk is like looking at a mirror. I already have a mirror so I dont need the Offspring to remind me how gorgeous I am."