The thematic, psychological, and cultural concerns of a writer are more relevant than whatever literary mode he or she chooses to deal with in any given novel.

If I had parallel lives to pursue, I would also want one as a painter.

As a child, I read science fiction, but from the very beginnings of my reading for pleasure, I read a lot of non-fictional history, particularly historical biography.

I've always been interested in the relationship between total external surround, culture, the political matrix, technology, etc., and the internal human consciousness.

Mexico was conquered more by manipulation of myth and archetype.

I'm not gifted, but I'm not hopeless.

I get work because I'm primarily a novelist but I've become script doctor. I can work back and forth between French and English.

In America, if you don't do a 100 million dollars, you've done nothing.

Chaos is the enemy of Order but the enemy of Chaos is also the enemy of Order

If it's not American, the French won't go see it.

The world has become more complex as technology and easy travel mixes cultures without homogenizing them.

The society and surroundings pressures us to do what they want us to do and be what they want us to be

Because of styles people are separated. Research your own experience, absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is essentially your own.

Love is who we are without our stories.

To occupy yourself with tasks that are useful to yourself and others, you can get your mind off your problems.

I wish I was sort of someone like Woody Allen who can stage everything in one long master shot, no coverage; just, you know, that's it.

The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?

Sip the shame so you won't have to guzzle the regret.

Don't take tomorrow to bed with you.

We Dutch, we like to have an opinion, a strong opinion. We think we know everything better.

As the saying goes, Bruce Jenner is a millionaire, and Mark Spitz is a dentist. It's the wrong sport.