Arnie lines up for a bit of Red Heat

"What is best in life: Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!"

Back when Arnold Schwarzenegger uttered these words in the cult film Conan the Barbarian, it’s unlikely he imagined that a couple of decades later he’d be visiting Shanghai with a delegation of businessmen in order to promote Californian products.

Then again, maybe he was thinking that. After all, Arnold Schwarzenegger has had more than his fair share of mysterious thoughts -- many of which he has also given voice to. Try some of these on for size:

• "My relationship to power and authority is that I'm all for it. People need somebody to watch over them. Ninety-five percent of the people in the world need to be told what to do and how to behave." -- in a 1990 interview with U.S. News.


• "Don't worry about that." -- on the environment.


• "As much as when you see a blonde with great tits and a great ass, you say to yourself, 'Hey, she must be stupid or must have nothing else to offer,' which maybe is the case many times. But then again there is the one that is as smart as her breasts look, great as her face looks, beautiful as her whole body looks gorgeous, you know, so people are shocked." -- in an interview with Esquire.


• "I think that gay marriage should be between a man and a woman."


• "We have to make sure everyone in California has a great job. A fantastic job!"

Gaffe-lovers will be watching Arnie’s two-day visit to Shanghai (November 16-17) with interest, though the presence of 50 Californian businessmen in the Governor’s entourage may decrease the chances of a cock-up.

Californian products account for US$6.8 billion in exports to China each year. Schwarzenegger will be pushing the interests of the high-tech and agriculture industries in the American state. The China trip (not Arnie's first) will also include meetings in Beijing and Hong Kong.

Shanghaiist will report back on whether or not the visit was deemed a success. Doubtless the man himself is fairly confident of the outcome, judging by his general philosophy:

I knew I was destined for great things. People will say that kind of thinking is totally immodest. I agree. Modesty is not a word that applies to me in any way -- I hope it never will.