With a book in your hand...you can go anywhere you want

My Irish passport makes me look like a chief of staff for the Provisional IRA.

If you want to be happy for life, love what you do.

When an eighty-five pound mammal licks your tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it's hard to feel sad.

Be proud to be a decent American rather than a wanker whipping up fear.

I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people.

The truth is I hate cocktail parties when the only person I know is my supposed date, and he abandons me the minute we come in the door.

When someone is mean to me, I just make them a victim in my next book.

A good man's life is never quite ended; something of it always remains to touch and illuminate other lives.

The flame of inspiration needs to be encouraged. Put a glass around that small candle and protect it from discouragement or ridicule.

Writing is storytelling. No matter how you slice it, you're saying, 'Once upon a time.' That's what writing is all about.

An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes that can be made in his subject, and how to avoid them.

The place was silent and - aware.

A lot of fancier yarns come from people trying to tell the truth. It’s not easy once you’re out of the habit.

A novel is a printed circuit through which flows the force of a reader's own life.

I recognize the delivery of grace to my day, even if I cannot identify a specific return address.

I am Psmith," said the old Etonian reverently. "There is a preliminary P before the name. This, however, is silent. Like the tomb. Compare such words as ptarmigan, psalm, and phthisis.

Indecision is actually the individual’s decision to fail.

I used to play tenor sax in high school, man.

You’ve got on a white coat. (Ephani) Awesome cognitive powers you have there. (Alexion)

I approach football like a street-ball game, like I'm playing with the fellas in the yard.