That was Prince Philip during a speech to a group of industrialists in 1961.
Over 70 years of official events, he seemed determined to prove this point true.
Clocking up 22,219 solo engagements before he retired in August 2017, the Duke of Edinburgh, who has died in London aged 99, became renowned for being gaffe-prone.
As recently as New Year's Eve in 2017, the Duke of Edinburgh pointed at a man with a beard and asked "Is that a terrorist?"
The then 96 year old is said to have made the comment while talking to Princess Anne as members of the family progressed to a New Year's Eve service at St Mary Magdalene church, near the Queen's Sandringham home.