Oddly, I do have a problem with authority. I find it very difficult to knuckle down and follow rules. Which are the classic symptoms of someone who has a troubled relationship with their father. And yet, I never had a problem with my father. – Toby Young
America thinks of itself as a meritocracy, so people have more respect for success and more contempt for failure. – Toby Young
In Britain, by contrast, we still think that class plays a part in determining a persons life chances, so were less inclined to celebrate success and less inclined to condemn failure. The upshot is that its much easier to be a failure in Britain than it is in America. – Toby Young
Ive become a professional failure – in order to pay the mortgage I have to remain unemployed. Luckily, a disaster always seems to befall me at exactly the right moment. – Toby Young
Ive never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they would get fired, and Id be left with the record company. And then – because they got fired – the record company wouldnt do anything for me. – Ornette Coleman