Of all liars the most arrogant are biographers: those who would have us believe, having surveyed a few boxes full of letters, diaries, bank statements and photographs, that they can play at the recording angel and tell the whole truth about another human life.

We cannot hope for a society in which formal organized religion dies out. But we can stop behaving as if it was worthy of our collective respect.

History does not eliminate grievances. It lays them down like landmines.

Everyone writes in Tolstoy's shadow, whether one feels oneself to be Tolstoyan or not.

I'm like Jane Austen - I work on the corner of the dining table.

A busybody's work is never done.

Millions of Christians can and do go through life attending church, listening to sermons, reciting the creeds and never confront the seeming contradictions, redaction and myths passed off as verifiable history.