Sacha Baron Cohen

I'm not a journalist. I'm a comedian. My job is to provoke, to entertain, and to make people think.

The greatest danger to democracy is not fascism, it's apathy.

I think humor is a very powerful weapon. It can disarm people, it can make them open up, and it can make them reveal their true selves.

I love playing characters who are completely oblivious to their own absurdity.

The best way to get people to say what they really think is to make them think they're not being recorded.

My goal is always to create a situation where people can't help but be themselves.

I think there's a lot of humor to be found in people's discomfort.

I'm not afraid to be controversial. I think it's important to challenge people's assumptions.

The key to good comedy is timing. And a good mustache.

I often feel like I'm a detective, trying to uncover the truth about people.

My characters are exaggerated versions of real people, but the reactions they get are always real.

I think it's important to laugh at ourselves, and at the world. Otherwise, we'd all go mad.

I'm always looking for ways to push the boundaries of comedy.

I think the most dangerous thing you can do is take yourself too seriously.

My characters are not about ridiculing individuals, but about exposing the flaws in society.

I like to think of myself as a comedic anthropologist.

The beauty of playing these characters is that you get to see how people react when they think they're in a safe space.

I'm always surprised by the things people will say when they think they're talking to a character.

Comedy is a great way to talk about serious issues without being preachy.

I find the most extreme characters are often the most revealing.