There are people who say, 'Oh this guy is quite thick.' I think the reason is that, increasingly, I don't mind being simple in terms of literary expression. Others say, 'No, no, no. He went to Cambridge. He got a good degree. He must be Einstein.'

Forcing people to eat together is an effective way to promote tolerance.

After 40 (old age for most of man's history), one should strive to be more or less packed and ready to go were the end call to come.

Journeys are the midwives of thought. Few places are more conducive to internal conversations than moving planes, ships or trains.

The architects who benefit us most maybe those generous enough to lay aside their claims to genius in order to devote themselves to assembling graceful but predominantly unoriginal boxes. Architecture should have the confidence and the kindness to be a little boring.

Work finally begins when the fear of doing nothing exceeds the fear of doing it badly.

One kind of good book should leave you asking: how did the author know that about me?