The way to get on with a cat is to treat it as an equal - or even better, as the superior it knows itself to be.

Children, I feel, are as much entitled to privacy as human beings.

Writing is like a bird-watcher watching for birds: the stories are there: you just have to train yourself to look for them.

It's not unsporting to thrash a cowardly cad,' said Simmons. 'Everyone knows you don't fight like a gentleman.' 'That might be called an oxymoron,' Ramses said. 'Oh--sorry. Bad form to use long words. Look it up when you get home.' The poor devil didn't know how to fight, like a gentleman or otherwise.

It was hate at first sight, clean, pure and strong as grain alcohol.

It is easier to counterfeit old age than youth.

If all else fails, we will simply have to drug our attendants, overpower the guards, raise the oppressed peasants to arms, and take over the government.