Im like the painter with his nose to the canvas, fussing over details. Gazing from a distance, the reader sees the big picture.

All writing is an act of self-exploration. Even a grocery list says something about you; how much more does a novel say?

In politics, reality and appearance are of equal importance. You cannot attend to one and neglect the other. A man must determine both what he is, and what others believe him to be.

Writing a first novel takes so much effort, with such little promise of result or reward, that it must necessarily be a labour of love bordering on madness.

Even the crudest, most derivative novel is an expression of the author's hopes and fears and ideas about good and evil.

I can't say I had an ideal father, and I'm not a father myself.

There was no arguing with a man's faith in the legends of his childhood.

He sips his drink and it leaves his handlebar mustache dripping like a cattle dog come outta a river.

One of the top causes of startup death - right after cofounder problems - is building something no one wants.

Abstract knowledge is not enough. At the end of the day, it's about how one reacts to circumstances in an extreme real-time situation.

Because I'd only done theater, that's really what I thought most of my life would be. I always figured that movies would be a part of it at some point. I didn't know how or when.

The Art of Conversation could not die in Australia; it never lived. Television did not kill it; there was nothing there to kill.

I'm not sure I would label it a 'survivor,'" said Iko, her sensor darkening with disgust. "It looks more like a rotting pumpkin.

The studio does a lot of testing before we settle on a system. Unfortunately, this means that price tends to come pretty far down the list.

If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.

Today further EU targeted sanctions on Syria come into force. The message is clear and unambiguous: those responsible for the repression will be singled out and held accountable.

It is difficult for a fool's habits to change to selflessness.