Funny how the nature of a normal day is the first memory to fade.

You can call it innocence, or you can call it gullibility, but Celia made the most common mistake of the good-hearted: she assumed that everyone else was just like her.

In a country that doesn't discriminate between fame and infamy, the latter presents itself as plainly more achievable.

Time itself made all things rare.

Not that happiness is dull. Only that it doesn't tell well. And of our consuming diversions as we age is to recite, not only to others but to ourselves, our own story.

...whenever a woman describes a man as sweet, the dalliance is doomed.

Though surely to avoid attachments for fear of loss is to avoid life.

I thought at the time that I couldn't be horrified anymore, or wounded. I suppose that's a common conceit, that you've already been so damaged that damage itself, in its totality, makes you safe.

I was mortified by the prospect of becoming hopelessly trapped in someone else's story.

My mind is huge with little stories that I never told you.

A carpet of despair which lay underneath the levels of fury.

There was something about Maria Graham that you could believe in – a slice of home. If not unique in her travelling, she was at least extraordinary.

One of the things that I think audio is best at is creating empathy.

I would almost say that the best screen actor is the man who can do nothing extremely well.

Some people believe God is involved in every little decision we make. Some people believe you're given the free will to make the decisions. Sometimes people believe God is not involved at all.

My father and uncles and all their friends turned their lungs black trying to satisfy my collector's zeal.

I like the groups on Factory, A Certain Ratio and Section 25. I

If you're going to get into big time religion, these are the games you have to play. You go into it as a business and you work it as a business.

When the inspiration comes, let everything else go!

I live in the house bad reviews built.

A lot of people, when you ask if they want to read your epic poem, start bolting for the door.