The thing that I'm most in love with is the thing that I'm writing at the moment.

The minute you become a leader of a country, you go into a very small club. You join that sort of pantheon of other world leaders.

If you have distance from the events, then your story can work as an analogy or parable, rather than its literal narrative.

To what degree are historians chroniclers of the truth and to what degree are they just novelists, frankly?

Firms are a bit concerned about things like oil prices and US growth but actually the change (in firms expectations) is quite small so I think broadly theyre looking for more of the same.

I wrote 'Hereafter' quickly and without mapping it out too much or being too schematic. As an exercise, I think that was incredibly important.

Generally, I read nonfiction. Theres very little fiction that I enjoy enough to spend my time reading. I am generally a nonfiction guy.

Movies feel like work, and reading fiction feels like work, whereas reading nonfiction feels like pleasure.

I just try and do something good. But as a writer, you're slightly out of control.

I am not a politics wonk. I like the idea of my writing reflecting more about who I am or other people.

The real beauty in my professional experience has been friendships and collaborations with filmmakers.

Memories lurk like dustballs in the backs of drawers. The stereo is a special model that plays only music fraught with poignant associations.

I would say I started rapping because my friends were doin it.

When you're going though a difficult time, forget about yourself for a while. Go do something for someone else. This is the fastest way to pull yourself out of a negative state.

Make movies. Don't make videos. Videos are evil.

Well-mannered children could be conceived if the parents were well-mannered.

If you aren't unhappy sometimes you don't know how to be happy.

I've known parabatai so close they were almost the same person; do you know what happens, when one of them dies, to the one that's left-

I am not against a little inflation.

And what is more generous than a window?

We sure as ruddy heck ain't in Prentisstown no more," I say to Manchee under my breath.