Some years ago, I had the great good fortune to spend a week in Cannes with Mr. Ogilvy. I was just a cub copywriter at the time, but thanks to my prolific ability to write 6200 words of copy for an Ogilvy client, the old man took a liking to me. The two of us had breakfast one morning, just the two of us. Here's a transcription of a bit of our conversation.
OGILVY:
You don't happen to have a good cigar, do you? I've got a young physician here who thinks I'm gonna give up smoking. Do you have a cigar?
ME:
No, I'm afraid I haven't. Sorry.
OGILVY:
I changed the subject, didn't I? What a disagreeable old man I have become! You want to know what I think about Martin Sorrell. Well, I suppose it has some private sort of greatness. He just left you a tip. Hmm? He had a generous mind. I don't suppose anybody ever had so many opinions. But he never believed in anything except Martin Sorrell. He never had a conviction except Martin Sorrell in his life. I suppose he'll die without one. That's been pretty unpleasant. Of course, a lot of us check out without having any special convictions about death. But we do know what we're leaving. We do believe in something. You're absolutely sure you haven't got a cigar?
GEO:
Sorry, Mr. Ogilvy.
OGILVY:
Never mind.
OGILVY:
I don't know. Martin was disappointed in the world. So he built one of his own, an absolute monarchy. Something bigger than an opera house anyway. Nurse!
NURSE:
Yes, Mr. Ogilvy.
OGILVY:
Oh, I'm coming. Uh, say, young fellow, there is one thing you can do for me.
GEO:
Sure.
OGILVY:
Stop at the cigar store on your way out, will you, get me up a couple of good cigars?
GEO:
I'll be glad to.
OGILVY:
Thank you. One is enough. You know, when I was a young man, there used to be an impression around that nurses were pretty. It was no truer then than it is today.
NURSE
I'll take your arm, Mr. Ogilvy.
EXEUNT
