The studio scene in California is sort of ridiculous anyway.

I was raised by the Christian Brothers, who believe in that, fortunately. They were, to me, the most rebellious arm of the Catholic Church - and one of the most liberal and forward thinking.

Compared to what they were, rock concerts now are like business meetings.

San Francisco is 49 square miles surrounded by reality.

At first I was iridescent, then I became transparent, finally I was absent

If you can remember anything about the sixties, you weren't really there.

I think most non-Christians who try to be good people are probably better Christians than Christians.

You can't plan for the future, because some guy's going to land in a spaceship with three heads and a big beak and take over everything.

You couldn't have fed the '50s into a computer and come out with the '60s.

Correcting it, I don't know; just shedding the light of day on it is a first major step, being one of the earliest generations not to just accept the words.

The starship thing is really political action and reaction, the natural outgrowth of Volunteers.

What you do with your time on a daily basis determines how far you will go in life

How astonishing it is that language can almost mean, and frightening that it does not quite.

The nearer the cutting off point lies to the main force of the enemy, the more immediate the effect; whereas the closer to the strategic base it takes place, the greater the effect.

Australia's not so bad with me, really, people are pretty cool with me at home, but in England it feels a little bit scary.

No one knows what women want!

There is a theme that runs through my work, and that is: the toxic property of keeping secrets.

I don't outline at all; I don't find it useful, and I don't like the way it boxes me in. I like the element of surprise and spontaneity, of letting the story find its own way.

Self-discipline is the golden key; without it, you cannot be happy.

Success is not measured by bestseller lists. Certain types of great books sell very well; other types of great books don’t sell a lot. But they’re both great.

Business is really more agreeable than pleasure; it interests the whole mind, the aggregate nature of man more continuously, and more deeply. But it does not look as if it did.