I would love it if anyone gave me the job of adapting 'The Great Gatsby,' but nobody ever does.

Be careful about the advice you give, especially to your children.

I was getting rewarded for writing well, from about the age of five or six. A teacher would say, "Look what Andrew has written," and I thought, "Maybe I could be a writer."

People like bonnets. I don't think you can under-estimate that.

I used to have this Mercedes, a dark blue 450SLC, which was the most beautiful car. I'd like to have another unusual, beautiful car.

When you see two writers named on a movie, one of them did some drafts and got the boot.

Novels often have leisurely openings; a TV drama needs an arresting opening.

I prefer love scenes to be shot up close with a lot of focus on eyes and mouths. Otherwise it can feel uncomfortable and voyeuristic.

As a fairly innocent teenager, growing up in a village in Wales, I just thought, "God, I would like to go and hang about Soho and write great poetry and try to avoid drinking myself to death."

I'm absolutely delighted if people think of me as a reliable purveyor of quality period stuff.

I suppose I have the tastes of someone who teaches at a university in the provinces.

But the truth, I realize now, is that I always hoped. Even if I knew my hope was a lie, I held on to it.

The more you know, the more you will be able to appreciate the beauty of life and your heart will desire to learn.

I promised her that I would never kiss and tell, but I have to tell someone about my dreams and fairytales. So I’m telling you that I kissed her.

I’m a moon junky. Every time I look at the moon I feel less alone and less afraid. I tell my boys that moonlight is a magic blanket and the stars above are campfires set by friendly aliens.

What is important is to spread confusion, not eliminate it.

I have met so-called leaders who showed fear in a moment when strength was required, and they give leadership a bad name.

I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.

I think there's a terrible price to be paid when your exterior life is not an honest reflection of your interior life.

Beauty, real beauty, is something very grave. If there is a God, He must be partly that.

Beneath every excuse lies a fear. Practice being fearless.