This is a fine example of a well crafted conversation - an art which is largely lost today. Superb balance and flow of topics, development of theme between both, minimal but well-placed interruption and amicability.
I like the way he discreetly tells Clive at the start that he's a Fellow not a Don. Cambridge University doesn't have Dons. Same with courts and quads. Cambridge has courts, Oxfords has quads.
And the 'most enormous... C - O - C - K...' is in one of his other books: 'The Hippopotamus', I think. Stephen never wastes good material. Can't agree with you more about the reading point. I love this interview.
They are going to try again tonight, he us using that voice that tortured me with again, my roommate is sleeping with I and wake him, I am scared. I don't know what to do . I know you cant help from where you are ut I nyst stay awake.
This is true. The English find him unoffensive and harmless like a sweet old granny. He is practically no use to anyone other than reasuring insecure middle classes than everying is cuddly if you say it in a cuddly whimsical little way.
i agree with you, although wouldn't have worded it quite like that. lol. but yes there is a distinction between being educated and being learned in the true sense of the word. and it's all politically-motivated and carefully controlled by the state and the ruling elite who run it.
Sorry James, but Stephen doesn't suffer from"Clinical Depression". Stephen suffers from "Bi-polar depression" Unlike the "Clinical Depressed", Stephen is happy some of the time.
What has Stephen Fry ever done to earn the reputation of an intellectual? A comedy show, a few things in entertainment. I always liked him but you can't be a public intellectual without actual achievements, only talk. I blame the fans though, not him.
+KidMillions Cambridge? His role in writing comedy? Writing good comedy takes intellect. As does getting a Cambridge degree and speaking as he does about important issues. He is no Einstein, but he is more than the 99%.
+KidMillions '[A]n intellectual is a person who engages in critical study, thought, and reflection about the reality of society, and proposes solutions for the normative problems of that society, and, by such discourse in the public sphere, he or she gains authority within the public opinion.' By definition that's literally what Stephen Fry is. To a higher degree than quite a few intellectuals I could mention, and also, to lesser degrees in the face of others, as well. Stephen Fry. Occupation: Actor, comedian, author, journalist, broadcaster, film director. Title: President of Mind (2011-present) Kentucky colonel Freeman of the City of London Patron of the British Humanist Association Honorary Life Member of the Union of UEA Students Patron of the Lip Theatre Company Patron of the Norwich Playhouse theatre Vice-President of the Noël Coward Society Honorary fellow of Queens' College, Cambridge Honorary fellow of Cardiff University Honorary president of the Cambridge University Quiz Society Rector of the University of Dundee (1992-1998) He made a series of animations about Humanism for the British Humanist Association, he was host of a Intelligent Squared debate, Verdi vs Wagner with the Royal Opera House, his knowledge and understanding of opera and classical music is vast, he also took part in a religious debate with late friend Christopher Hitchens, he has written many books and created a fair amount of TV and film, he has given many talks and lectures on lanauge and made a documentary on language and more. He is quite the scholar of a few people, one of whom would be Wilde, he played Wilde in the movie in fact and won an award I believe, or just short of winning one. He is (was) a columnist for the Literary Review, Daily Telegraph and The Listener. He is also rather lettered in logic and diverse in the other philosophies and sciences and with his show, QI he informs the general public of all he can, and displays that he and his friends know a fair bit about a fair amount. What would make him a public intellectual? He most certainly has a genius level IQ (140), his knowledge and general knowledge is highly vast compared not just to the common people, but to the common public speakers and so forth as well, therefore making him a public intellectual and quite a strong one at that. He is a fairly acclaimed English writer, his wit is endless, he is a fine linguaphile, philomath and polyglot I believe, he is a master of English and he knows German, French, Greek, Latin and more. Therefore he is in fact by definition highly intelligent. Intellectual: a person possessing a highly developed intellect. Stephen Fry is an intellectual, granted, not to the highest degree of course, not near the level of the Enlightenment fellows or any other great mind you care mention, of this he himself knows full well and admits readily, but nonetheless, he is an intellectual, alas, I have no idea what you are talking about.
It's interesting that you defend someone on the basis of "self worth" Fry has spoken about his lack of self worth many times. You are justifying him because he is "entertains and makes people feel good" For many people, so do lap dancers and hookers. You've been swept up by your own sweeping statement. Alos, It's not against the law to be indifferent about someone just because the Cool Culture cops think he is cuddly.
