Poetry is another space, like love, where we extend that extra credit to the writer.

There are ideas it will be easy to say in the future that we just don't have the language for now.

If I could start over today, I would choose literature again. If the answers exist in the world or in the universe, I still think that's where we're going to find them.

The novel form is about the protagonist's struggle to transform his arbitrary, fragmented, given experience into a narrative as meaningful as his favorite books.

Humor is really important to me. All my favorite writers are writers I consider to be funny, including Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, even though that's not necessarily their rap.

In a lot of ways, being a writer is a lousy job - grueling, emotionally taxing, terrible hours, no health care - so if it wasn't about love, what would be the point?

At any given time, there are ideas and images that can only be communicated indirectly.

When you invent something, you're drawing on reservoirs of knowledge that you already have. It's only when you're faithful to the truth that something can come to you from the outside.

I am a great admirer of Henry Jeffreys and have been eagerly awaiting his booze and empire book for many years!

I didn't care about truth; I cared about beauty. It took me many years--it took the experience of lived time--to realize that they really are the same thing.

People are shaped by friendship as much as by romance.

This world is the playing ground of our thoughts and imaginations which create our perceptions.

Hey! Jack the Wanker! Over here! I want your autograph!

You must stay away from the one who brings nothing but heartache and death. Do you hear me? He brings nothing but death. Always has.

The good critic is he who narrates the adventures of his soul among masterpieces.

For it was in the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.

There is something comforting about going into a practice room, putting your sheet music on a stand and playing Bach over and over again.

I believe that voters should know who Hillary Clinton is.

As a conservative who believes in limited government, I believe that the only check on government power in real time is a free and independent press.

My God. What's happened?

What people should understand is that I adore the Labour party.