There is a fullness and calmness there which can come only from knowing pain.

As for the depiction of the Catholic church, it's not meant to be a prediction

Artists recognize other artists as soon as the pencil begins to move.

The Great Change is when humankind accepts its role as part of the natural order of the universe instead of its role as a cancer

The never-ending competition between writers hasn't changed between 1868 and 2000. I used to belong to writers' workshops with other professionals, but that becomes impossible after a while. Everyone's on a different step of the career ladder. Jealousy doesn't have to erupt into murder and burying someone in Wells Cathedral, but it is always there.

The problem with being passionately in love ... is that it deprives you of too much sleep.

Speaking as a novelist myself, I know that members of our profession live in our imaginations as much or more as we inhabit what people call 'the real world.