International business, once allowed to stalk uncontrolled, killed the local, the small, the quirky.

None of us knows how we will cope with snakes until the moment arises, and then most of us find out that we do not do it very well.

I would certainly never consider myself a Renaissance Man; I'm not fit to look at the dust from the chariot wheels of many of those who have gone before me.

We need to believe I think in justice. We need to run our lives as if justice existed... If we abandon a belief that justice will eventually be done, we make this world much more difficult for ourselves.

Do you realise that people die of boredom in London suburbs? It's the second biggest cause of death amongs the English in general. Sheer boredom...

I've also long since realized that the way to really engage children is to give out prizes; it's amazing how it concentrates their minds.

But you cannot expect every writer to dwell on human suffering. I think my books do deal with grave issues. People who say they are too positive probably havent read them.