Ricky Gervais: Which quality in your friends matters most to you?

The question

Which quality in your friends matters most to you?

Originally asked

Vanity Fair, to its interview subject, The Proust Questionnaire

A fixed Vanity Fair Proust Questionnaire item asked across its three-decade archive, with independent variants in friendship and profile interviews.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Ricky Gervais

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

It’s hard to narrow it down, because I want them to have a bit of everything—humor, kindness, integrity, intelligence, tolerance (they need lots of that). But if I had to choose just one it would probably be loyalty.

The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 10 August 2017 source ↗

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Warren Buffett Chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, 1970–2025

The asset I most value, aside from health, is interesting, diverse, and long-standing friends.

Recorded His own pledge letter, written on joining the Giving Pledge in 2010, The Giving Pledge, 2010 source ↗

Michael Cunningham

Forbearance with my chronic tardiness.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 22 November 2023 source ↗

Megan Rapinoe United States international footballer, 2006–2023

Humor and honesty. And, like me, they always think the unnecessary last drink is a great idea.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 July 2020 source ↗

Tina Fey

A willingness to come uptown.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2011 source ↗

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Question What one change would most improve the quality of your daily life? Daily life

A dog. (I don't have one because we're back and forth over the Atlantic and it would be cruel to leave it.)

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2014 source ↗

Question What does happiness look like for you when life is going well? Identity & self

Playing with a dog. And we’re both drunk.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 10 August 2017 source ↗

Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

I can't remember a time when I was happier than now, to be honest – though that's always been the case.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2014 source ↗

Question What most recently moved you to tears? Identity & self

Over a YouTube clip about animals. "Laboratory animals see sunlight for the first time", or "elephant mourns his best friend the goat". I watch something like that every day and I'm always in pieces.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2014 source ↗

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