Ricky Gervais: Churchill's advisors once came to him and said, "We're going to stop all funding for the arts so we can put that into the war effort." And Churchill said, "Then what are we fighting for?" Sends a chill down my spine. Incredible.
SR: Any regret about your act at the Golden Globes?
RG: I stand by everything. You shouldn't apologize for anything you meant to do. You can apologize for things you do when you're 15, but not when you're 50. People confuse the subject of the joke with the target of the joke, and they're very rarely the same. Let's get this in perspective: They're the wealthiest, most privileged people in the world. Offense is taken, not given. It's your choice.
SR: And I'm not even sure who's acting and who's genuinely taking offense.
RG: Imagine if I had gone out there and said, "We're all in the same gang. Aren't we brilliant? Us millionaires together." There was a Roman emperor that hired someone to whisper "You're just a man" in his ear as he walked around the crowds. Just to remind him, because he knew if everyone tells you you're a god, then you are. And so he hired someone to say "You're just a man."
