David Bowie: ten memorable quotes from the rock legend

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Celebrities around the world have been paying tribute to rock legend David Bowie, who died at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer.

Madonna described the British singer as a "talented, unique genius" while comedian Ricky Gervais tweeted simply: "I just lost a hero."

While Bowie's lyrics are memorable, he also had an impressive turn of phrase in real life – contrary to expectations. "Despite a reputation for being elusive, Bowie has been candid in interviews," notes the Daily Telegraph's Martin Chilton.

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Here, we look back on some of Bowie's most memorable quotes, from his good-natured feud with Rolling Stone star Sir Mick Jagger to his hatred of disco…

"I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human. I felt very puny as a human. I thought, 'F*** that. I want to be a superhuman. '"

"What I like my music to do to me is awaken the ghosts inside of me. Not the demons, you understand, but the ghosts."

"I'm an instant star - just add water and stir."

"I think [Mick] Jagger would be astounded and amazed if he realised that to many people, he is not a sex symbol but a mother image."

"Fame can take interesting men and thrust mediocrity upon them."

"I'm not a big fan of disco. I loathe it. I really get so embarrassed that my records do so well in discos."

"I'm not convinced that I'm anybody's guru… I have a great imagination. I'm not a vegetable. I let my imagination run wild."

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"As you get older, the questions come down to about two or three: how long and what do I do with the time I’ve got left?"

"I think I've done just about everything that it’s possible to do. I really had a hunger to experience everything that life had to offer, from the opium den to whatever."

"I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring."