# Michael Palin

Sir Michael Edward Palin, KCMG, CBE, FRGS, FRSGS (born 5 May 1943) is an English comedian, actor, television presenter and public speaker most famous as one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python, and as a presenter of travel documentaries.

## Quotes

* There are many ways of seeing the world. You can hang upside down from a meteor, volunteer to be the fourth stage of a three-stage rocket, or simply get in a balloon and keep going. But if it's sheer, unadulterated discomfort you're looking for, just stay on land.
** Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days (1989)
* I wish them a long and happy life. If it's as long as their wedding, I'm sure they'll be fine.
** Pole to Pole (1992)
* The use of the word "just" by an Australian means that whatever it is you have to do, it will not be easy, as in "Just pull that sword out of the stone" or "Just split that atom."
** Full Circle with Michael Palin (1997)
* One of the difficult things of so much travelling is to say goodbye.
** Sahara with Michael Palin (2002)
* Contrary to what the politicians and religious leaders would like us to believe, the world won't be made safer by creating barriers between people. Cries of “They’re evil, let’s get ‘em” or “The infidels must die” sound frightening, but they're desperately empty of argument and understanding. They're the rallying cries of prejudice, the call to arms of those who find it easier to hate than admit they might be not be right about everything. Armageddon is not around the corner. This is only what the people of violence want us to believe. The complexity and diversity of the world is the hope for the future.
** "Letter from London" (18 September 2003)

### Ripping Yarns (1976 - 1979)

    Co-written with Terry Jones
* Tomkinson: What are these? Mother: Shoe trees, dear...
** "Tomkinson's Schooldays"
* It's not a model if it's full-size. It's a ice-breaker!
** "Tomkinson's Schooldays"
* I've got a false lip.
** "Murder on Moorstones Manor"

## Misattributed

* Nuns with banners!
** This was a comment made about picketing of the film Monty Python's Life of Brian but there is no reason to attribute it to Michael Palin.

## External links

* Michael Palin profile at BBC Guide to Comedy
* Michael Palin profile at Comedy Zone
* Palin's Travels – official website for the travel series
* Michael Palin on IMDb
* Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children
Monty Python :
| Members | Graham Chapman · John Cleese · Terry Gilliam · Eric Idle · Terry Jones · Michael Palin |
| Supporting cast | Carol Cleveland · Neil Innes |
| Television series | Flying Circus (1969–1974) · Fliegender Zirkus (1972) · Personal Best (2006) |
| Filmography | And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) · Holy Grail (1975) · Life of Brian (1979) · Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) · The Meaning of Life (1983) |
| Music | Monty Python albums |
| Specials | Parrot Sketch Not Included (1989) · Live at Aspen (1998) · Python Night (1999) |
| Documentaries | The Seventh Python (2008) · Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut) (2009) |
| Stage productions | Spamalot (opened 2005) · Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) (premiered 2007) · An Evening Without Monty Python (debuted 2009) · Live (mostly) (premiered 2014) |
| Literature | Big Red Book (1971) · Brand New Bok (1973) |
| Video games | Flying Circus (1990) · Complete Waste of Time (1994) · Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) · The Meaning of Life (1997) · Cow Tossing (2011) |
| Related articles | Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967–1969) · At Last the 1948 Show (1967) · How to Irritate People (1968) · We Have Ways of Making You Laugh (1968) · The Complete and Utter History  of Britain (1969) · Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976) · Ripping Yarns (1979) · Holy Flying Circus (2011) · A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's  Graham Chapman (2012) |