I'm fortunate that the books sell, but even more fortunate to live in Chatham, to be very happily married and to have, on the whole, a fairly clear conscience.

Pride makes a man, it drives him, it is the shield wall around his reputation... Men die, they said, but reputation does not die.

Wyrd bith ful araed (Fate is inexorable).

You won't regret the men you never killed, but you will regret the women you passed up.

We all suffer from dreams

Writing is a solitary occupation.

Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.

Of course some days are easier than others, but my worst day is better than being in most humdrum occupations.

Book tours and research provide a lot of travel - too much, I sometimes think, but we do take vacations.

The existence of tricks does not imply the absence of magic.

We make children and wealth and amass land and build halls and assemble armies and give great feasts, but only one thing survives us. Reputation.

Don’t worry, pray!

I write because it's the only thing I love that always loves me back.

Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity.

My dad is a much more flamboyant character than I am. I think that's why I couldn't see myself going into straight acting. I always just felt daft.

Whatever I do, I love to win. I don't care if it's tennis or ping pong, I'll kill myself to win it.

The universe may not always play fair, but at least it's got a hell of a sense of humor.

Keep your morale high, in spite of setbacks. At the end you are bound to succeed.

Patriotism corrupts history.

The dog that will follow everbody ain't worth a curse.

He who seeks fame by the practice of virtue asks only for what he deserves.