I have always had a particular antagonism for the military.

And I don't want to live anywhere where I am famous. It makes me very, very uncomfortable, because it conveys an advantage over people, and I don't like that.

I never know what's going to happen in a novel. I don't have a plan or an outline.

Venetians feel affection and loyalty to their city, rather than to the Italian state.

The Germans and Austrians are very polite, the Swiss are very reserved and the Spanish usually kiss me. The Brits write me letters.

I just go to lunch. And I never know when something is going into the file and something is not.

favors are always for ourselves. Especially when we ask for things for other people.