I believe the US is a truly monstrous force in the world, now off the leash for obvious reasons.

All that happens is that the destruction of human beings - unless they're Americans - is called collateral damage.

Most of the press is in league with government, or with the status quo.

The Companion of Honour I regarded as an award from the country for 50 years of work - which I thought was okay.

There's a tradition in British intellectual life of mocking any non-political force that gets involved in politics, especially within the sphere of the arts and the theatre.

I don't think there's been any writer like Samuel Beckett. He's unique. He was a most charming man and I used to send him my plays.

I found the offer of a knighthood something that I couldn't possibly accept. I found it to be somehow squalid, a knighthood. There's a relationship to government about knights.