History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.

It is through our extended family that we first learn to compromise and come to an understanding that even if we don't always agree about things we can still love and look out for each other.

I always thought that bagels and lox was my soul food, but it turns out it's sushi.

Something I notice speaking to writers from south of Hadrians Wall is that the culture is different. At base, I think Scotland values its creative industries differently from England.

I jealously guard my research time and I love fully immersing myself in those dusty old books and papers. It's one of the most enjoyable parts of my job.

The sky was a sparkling succession of black diamonds on black velvet made crystal clear by the blackout.

I believe the era of the militant lady is back.

Without archives many stories of real people would be lost, and along with those stories, vital clues that allow us to reflect and interpret our lives today.

Research material can turn up anywhere - in a dusty old letter in an archive, a journal or some old photographs you find in a charity shop.

Writers of novels live in a strange world where what's made up is as important as what's real.

Books have a vital place in our culture. They are the source of ideas, of stories that engage and stretch the imagination and most importantly, inspire.

For most normal people, politics is a distant, occasionally irritating fog.

If you really love someone, ' Claudia continued, 'you have to be prepared to accept them as they are. Maybe you hope that one day they get a wake-up call and make the changes for their own reasons.

There ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.

My films are of paramount importance to me, the same as my family. That's not going to change. This is a balance I have to strike throughout my life.

I prefer being honest to being 'honest to God.'

I think that people have to just go with their gut and follow their passion if they're photographers.

There are no mistakes in life - only lessons. Lessons to be learnt and re-learnt until they are no longer lessons.

Planned Parenthood should absolutely be defunded. I mean if you look at what's going on with that, it's terrible. And many other things should be defunded and many things should be cut.

And what if I did run my ship aground; oh, still it was splendid to sail it!

Don't be satisfied... always try to strive for more.