Proust Questionnaire

A few weeks ago we found out from my from sister-in-law that Walden Books in Provo Town Center was closing and subsequently selling off their merchandise at drastically reduced rates. We headed to the store the next day and found what we thought would be a nice "coffee table" book of sorts:

Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire: 101 Luminaries Ponder Love, Death, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life. (this is an earlier edition's cover. I couldn't find an image for this year's)

We've had a good time perusing its pages and being shocked by certain celebrities answers (who knew Julie Andrews was such a dirty girl) , entertained by others and even happy to see some humility and faith in some.
Here are some of my favorites:

-Dave Brubeck-
Q:What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A: All commitments fulfilled.

Q: When and where were you happiest?
A: May 8, 1945, Regensburg, Germany, the end of World War II in Europe.

-Conan O'Brien-
Q: What is your greatest fear?
A: Puberty.

Q:What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A: A lust for mediocrity.

-Robert Altman-
Q: What is your greatest regret?
A: Doing this questionnaire.

-Lauren Bacall-
Q: What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
A: A 24-inch waist.

-James Brown-
Q: What is the quality you most like in a man?
A: Integrity- that takes care of everything.

-Ellen DeGeneres-
Q:What is the trait you most deplore in others?
A: Tardiness. No, wait, arrogance. How about being late and then being arrogant about it?


Well, you get the idea. So I thought it would be fun to see what anyone who is willing to answer (any or all of) these questions says. Post it in the comment too if you don't mind so I can see them if you plan on blogging it. I'll go ahead and post my answers in the next post. Here are the questions I picked:

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
2. What is your greatest fear?
3. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
4. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
5. What is the train you most deplore in others?
6.What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
7.Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
8. What is your most marked characteristic?
9. What is the quality you most like in a man?
10. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
11. Who are your favorite writers?
12. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
13. How would you like to die?