I made one untitled piece.

- Damien Hirst

A lot of people thought I wasn't doing anything because I was spending a lot of time socialising and going out, but I've always managed to get work actually done.

- Damien Hirst

It's such a crass idea - you're either in love or out of love.

- Damien Hirst

There was a point I could have just churned out the spot and spin paintings for ever and laughed all the way to the bank.

- Damien Hirst

No, I don't believe in genius. I believe in freedom. I think anyone can do it. Anyone can be like Rembrandt.

- Damien Hirst

My Mum brought me up to believe that if you look after the pennies then the pounds look after themselves, and I could never do it.

- Damien Hirst

Immortality is really desirable, I guess. In terms of images, anyway.

- Damien Hirst

I've had laser eye surgery and I don't wear glasses any more, so people just go, 'You're not Damien Hirst.' I don't get recognized on the street.

- Damien Hirst

I used to believe I was going to live forever. And then you suddenly become aware that you're not.

- Damien Hirst

I think money is important for everyone, because the lack of it is so painful.

- Damien Hirst

There's no possible way you can get what you want.

- Damien Hirst

I had a passport where I wrote 'artist' under 'occupation' and I remember thinking, 'That's it, it's proved!'

- Damien Hirst

I gave up painting by 16. I secretly thought I would have been Rembrandt by then.

- Damien Hirst

I always ignore money.

- Damien Hirst

As a father, I would say I am more like a mother. I do a lot of hugging.

- Damien Hirst

Artists are like everybody else.

- Damien Hirst

A painting probably is the most shocking increase in value, from what it costs to make to what you sell it for.

- Damien Hirst

People always say that my work is sensational or shocking but there are truly shocking things you could do, and my sculptures don't go anywhere near that.

- Damien Hirst

I've been asked to do a retrospective since I was about 28 and I always thought that was a bit odd. It's great to look forward as an artist because in the future the possibilities are infinite; you look back and it's all fixed so it's a scary thing.

- Damien Hirst

I think I've always been afraid of painting, really. Right from the beginning. All my paintings are about painting without a painter. Like a kind of mechanical form of painting.

- Damien Hirst