The monotony of staying in one place is the best thing for writing a novel. Having regular habits, a kind of security, but especially no big surprises, no shocks.

Hawaii is not a state of mind, but a state of grace.

There are probably more annoying things than being hectored about African development by a wealthy Irish rock star in a cowboy hat, but I can't think of one at the moment.

The Australian Book of Etiquette is a very slim volume.

I cannot make my days longer so I strive to make them better.

You go away for a long time and return a different person - you never come all the way back.

You can't save the rhinos and you can't preserve a culture. I'm very pessimistic. Once it's gone, it's over.

All travel is circular. I had been jerked through Asia, making a parabola on one of the planet's hemispheres. After all, the grand tour is just the inspired man's way of heading home.

Travel is an attitude, a state of mind. It is not residence, it is motion.

Railways are irresistible bazaars, snaking along perfectly level no matter what the landscape, improving your mood with speed, and never upsetting your drink.

Tibet has a very proud people but it's culturally gone and overrun ever since the Chinese took over. It's like saving the rhino. When a species is endangered, it's gone.

IN THE END, THE JOURNEY OF THE STORY BEGINS

The British people have decided to leave. It is a sad decision but one which I respect. The vote puts the European Union in difficulties. It must recognise its shortfalls.

I insist on believing that beauty elevates human beings.

I really try not to be like, "I'm an activist."

If pessimism is despair, optimism is cowardice and stupidity. Is there any need to choose between them?

My problem is not that I don't want to play, it's that I don't want to live!

A man is not measured by how much he can take and stand but by how fast he regains once fallen.

If I were a weaker man, I would have quit. Something is testing me, I'm not a religious man, so I'm not going to throw the God word around.

Now that you're Secretary of War, what kind of an army do you think we ought to have?

It is impossible to achieve the aim without suffering.