Narration is as much a part of human nature as breath and the circulation of the blood.

Cyclists. I really hate them. I wish they would not be so self-righteous and realise they are a danger to pedestrians. I wish cyclists would not vindictively snap off wing mirrors on cars when they were trying to cross in front of the car at a danger to motorists and pedestrians.

Biographies are no longer written to explain or explore the greatness of the great. They redress balances, explore secret weaknesses, demolish legends.

Never stop paying attention to things. Never make your mind up finally. Do not hold beliefs.

There is a peculiar aesthetic pleasure in constructing the form of a syllabus, or a book of essays, or a course of lectures. Visions and shadows of people and ideas can be arranged and rearranged like stained-glass pieces in a window, or chessmen on a board.

I do not want to be a relative and passive being, anywhere. I want to live and love and write.

I don't only write about English literature; I also write about chaos theory and... ants. I can understand ants.