I still feel threatened by academics, but my books have a lot of academic in-jokes and everybody assumes I went to university and studied English.
There is abundant proof that the opening of our ports always tends to raise the price of foreign corn to the price in the English market, and not to sink the price of British corn to the price in the continental market.
I picked a name that was a combination of an island name and a very English name. Havana was one choice and Dominico was another, but I liked the combination of Jamaica Kincaid.
My mother had an incredibly strong accent - although I couldn't hear it - and she was the main person there, so I'll have learnt to speak English from her.
If there's anything I'd hate as a son-in-law, it's an actor; and if there's anything I think I'd hate worse than an actor as a son-in-law, it's an English actor.
From what I've read, everyone has a claim on Merlin. Was he Scottish, Welsh, English or even French? All these countries have got a big claim on him and Camelot. That's why the Arthurian legends are so popular - because they are such good stories.
If Pocahontas had been given the foresight to see what devastating consequences her actions and belief in the possibility of peace would have brought upon her people, I wonder if she would have avoided befriending the English or not.
But at the time when he wrote, Englishmen, with the rarest exceptions, wrote only in French or Latin; and when they began to write in English, a man of genius, to interpret and improve on him, was not found for a long time.
I came to Los Angeles for the first time in 1994. I spoke no English. I only knew how to say two sentences: 'How are you?' and 'I want to work with Johnny Depp.'
In 1986, I was attacked in the street as I helped Neil Mullarkey from the Comedy Store Players to put up posters. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time - midnight - and we were English. I got kicked in the head.
Roberto: [looking through his book of English phrases] If looks could kill, I am a-dead now.
Roy Walker: Next was the English naturalist: Charles Darwin. He loved all living things. Creatures, plants... everything alive.
Ferris: Hi. Do you speak English? Garage Attendant: Uh, what country do you think this is?
Archie: You're going to shoot me? Otto: [in a pompous, English accent] Yep, 'fraid so, ol' chap! Sorry!
[after someone speaks to him in Irish Gaelic] Boss Tweed: They don't speak English in New York any more?
Joe (Cantonese)/Jeffrey (English): I thought those I killed deserved to die. Now I believe everbody has the right to live.
Lee: I believe in justice, but nobody trusts me. Joe (Cantonese)/Jeffrey (English): I have the same problem.
Joe (Cantonese)/Jeffrey (English): Would you rather see me dead or set free? Lee: Neither, if fate spares us.
Lee: Do all killers have a sense of honor? Joe (Cantonese)/Jeffrey (English): The world has changed. Honor is now a dirty word.
[Danny points a gun at Jeff] Lee: Don't move! Jennie: Who is it? Joe (Cantonese)/Jeffrey (English): It's Dumbo. He's come to say bon voyage.
Lee: I wish I could have a friend like you. Joe (Cantonese)/Jeffrey (English): You will, in the next life.
