''You can’t laugh with people you don’t like. If you like someone, they can say horrendous things because you know it’s coming from a good place. There’s no place for machismo or genuine cruelty in comedy.''

''There no place for being cool or sexy in comedy, and as soon as you start thinking you are, then you’re not as funny. I like a comedian who shambles out and moans about his day.''

- I think Gervais has beautifully articulated the essence of his trade.
One minor quibble, though...re:''There no place for being cool or sexy in comedy''......Izzard? Bruce? Hicks? Davidson?