Robin Williams: top 10 quotes of a comedy genius

Fans, stars and VIPs all over the world mourn the tragic death of Robin Williams, after the comedy genius and Oscar-winning star was found dead at his California home on Monday. Described as "one of a kind" by both Barack Obama and his Mrs Doubtfire co-star Sally Field, as one of the world's "most beloved artists and beautiful human beings" by his wife, Susan Schneider, and "a genius" by many more, Robin dedicated his life to the stage, and lighting up the lives of others.   

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Robin's wife Susan described her late husband as one of the world's "most beloved artists and beautiful human beings"

A shining star who made people laugh in movies including Mrs Doubtfire, Good Morning, Vietnam, Good WIll Hunting, as well as doing stand-up comedy – he won a Grammy award for best spoken word album in 2003 – we look at Robin Williams' top quotes on and off-screen, as we remember the life of a wonderful artist.

• "I started doing comedy because that was the only stage that I could find. It was the pure idea of being on stage. That was the only thing that interested me, along with learning the craft and working, and just being in productions with people."  

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  "When you have a great audience, you can just keep going and finding new things," Robin Williams said

  
  

• "What's right is what's left if you do everything else wrong."
• "When you have a great audience, you can just keep going and finding new things."
• "No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world." (Dead Poet's Society)
• "Comedy is acting out optimism."
• "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'"

  
  

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  "But only in their dreams can men be truly free. It was always thus and always thus will be," said Robin 

  
  

• "But only in their dreams can men be truly free. It was always thus and always thus will be." (Dead Poet's Society)
• "Mickey Mouse to a three-year-old is a six-foot-tall rat!"
• "Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?"
• Speaking of his mentor, Jonathan Winters: "Jonathan taught me that the world is open for play, that everything and everybody is mockable, in a wonderful way."