A biography for Phil Taylorhasn’t been written yet.
“I believe I'll still be winning world titles at 50 and beyond.”
“You can't know the dedication it takes to win 16 world titles until you do it yourself. I didn't know what John Lowe had to do before me. I respected him because that's how I was brought up - but I respect him more now that I've done it myself.”
“I don't get an eighth of the attention of David Beckham, but it's still pretty heavy.”
“People think that being rich is all about having money. But the times I've had the most money is when I've been unhappiest.”
“My mum and dad always brought me up like that. You go to work, you do your best.”
“Money is great for paying the bills and putting food in the cupboard and in the fridge. But winning titles is different altogether. It's what you do, it's your living.”
“In 1990 I qualified to play in the World Championships for the first time. I was ranked 125-1 to win but I knew I could do it.”
“I worked as an engineer before going into ceramics, making insulators. It was my job, so I got it done. But I also had a lot of pride in myself.”
“When I see myself on TV, it's like watching a film with Bruce Willis in it. You think it's somebody else. It's weird.”
“The games you lose are the games you can remember.”
“I'm just a working class man who's done well for himself.”
“Money brings jealousy and bitterness.”
“I can see when people's minds are wrong. You can see when a footballer's going to miss a penalty.”
“It's hard to keep a marriage when you're on the road all the time.”
“You know what, December's a funny time of the year, because the weather changes, the central heating comes on; sometimes you can get colds and coughs and flu.”
“If you cut the fat out of your diet you feel more energetic, for sure.”
“I don't know why I am liked. I think it's probably because I've just been normal, not been flash or tried to hurt anybody. I'm not one for going out and going to nightclubs. I'd rather stay in and watch a good movie.”
“These youngsters coming into the sport are bright lads. They see how much money there is now and they realise you've got to be fitter and stronger than the others.”
“I'm a little like Roy Keane. Mentally I'm very strong. I'm very hungry. I'm very dedicated. You can't throw me off my stride. That's how I break people. I just don't care what they do. They can throw 180, 180 and 180 again and I'm like, 'so what?' They've got to keep it up to beat me.”
“It's good to remember where you come from.”