In recent times, when I was looking after my mum. She would take me on journeys in her mind and I’d travel with her wherever she went. I felt happy that I had the opportunity to have that time despite her illness.
When were you happiest?
Question
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Identity & self
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
Question
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Values & belief
Question
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Death & what remains
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
There are different kinds of happiness, but the simplest was when I was 13 because what one had to do was so obvious.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2012 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 577 →
Tony Robinson
British actor
At my wedding in Ravello, surrounded by friends and relatives.
The last few years. There’s a beauty to getting to an age where you really don’t care about stuff that used to bother you.
Isla Fisher
Australian actress
When I won my first Oscar. Oh, wait – that was Amy Adams.
More from John Cleese
View profile →The demise of the London Daily Mail.
Self-criticism.
Lack of self-criticism.
Tchaikovsky's 1812, sung by Barry Manilow.
Michael Frayn – such modesty, talent, kindness and bottomless curiosity.
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