...she felt about reading what some writers felt about writing: that it was impossible not to do it and that at this late stage of her life she had been chosen to read as others were chosen to write.

Above literature?' said the Queen. 'Who is above literature? You might as well say one was above humanity.

Children always assume the sexual lives of their parents come to a grinding halt at their conception.

I think the writer's quite low down in the hierarchy really. But the fact that they took the piss out of Nicholas [Hynter] who, besides being the director, is also director of the National Theatre is, I'd have thought, slightly more risky.

If I am doing nothing, I like to be doing nothing to some purpose. That is what leisure means.

One of the hardest things for boys to learn is that a teacher is human. One of the hardest things for a teacher to learn is not to try and tell them.

Mark my words, when a society has to resort to the lavatory for its humour, the writing is on the wall.