Jonathan Miller Quotes

A collection of quotes by Jonathan Miller.

Jonathan Miller (1934-2019) was a British polymath, recognized for his contributions as a director, actor, author, and medical doctor. Born in London, Miller was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he studied natural sciences and medicine. His professional career was marked by a versatility rarely seen, blending artistic pursuits with scientific interests.

Miller gained early fame in the 1960s as a member of the comedy revue "Beyond the Fringe," which also featured Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, and Alan Bennett. This theatrical success marked the beginning of his journey as a multi-talented personality. As a stage director, Miller gained acclaim for his innovative productions of operas and plays, including his renowned production of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" at the English National Opera.

Besides his contributions to the arts, Jonathan Miller excelled as a medical doctor and received widespread recognition for his BBC documentary series "The Body in Question," exploring human biology. Throughout his life, he authored several books, including "The Art of Being Human" and "On Reflection." Known for his intellectual curiosity and sharp wit, Miller's interdisciplinary approach to life made him a prominent figure in both the artistic and scientific worlds.

Jonathan Miller's remarkable career, marked by his exceptional talent across various fields, left an indelible mark on British culture. His legacy continues to inspire generations of artists, scholars, and intellectuals.

You spend ten years of your life being trained to do one thi

You spend ten years of your life being trained to do one thing, and you're being taught to think that it's the most serious thing that anyone could possibly do, and then suddenly you find yourself doing something that in some respects is the epitome of frivolity.

Jonathan Miller

Life

While the early deists were busy reconstructing Christianity

While the early deists were busy reconstructing Christianity, at the same time being very careful to avoid the accusation of atheism, the world of science had been steadily progressing.

Jonathan Miller

Time Science Thetimes

Ever since the Reformation, there's a sense in which the roa

Ever since the Reformation, there's a sense in which the road to atheism was paved not with science, but with religious intentions.

Jonathan Miller

Science

Science is a self-sufficient activity.

Science is a self-sufficient activity.

Jonathan Miller

Science

The thing about science is that it's an accurate picture of

The thing about science is that it's an accurate picture of the world.

Jonathan Miller

Science

Attitudes to museums have changed. If it had Marilyn Monroe'

Attitudes to museums have changed. If it had Marilyn Monroe's knickers or Laurence Olivier's jockstrap they would flock to it.

Jonathan Miller


Errors of taste are very often the outward sign of a deep fa

Errors of taste are very often the outward sign of a deep fault of sensibility.

Jonathan Miller

Style

What makes literature interesting is that it does not surviv

What makes literature interesting is that it does not survive its translation. The characters in a novel are made out of the sentences. That's what their substance is.

Jonathan Miller

Books

I wasn't driven into medicine by a social conscience but by

I wasn't driven into medicine by a social conscience but by rampant curiosity.

Jonathan Miller

Doctors