Art's cruel. You can get away with murder with words. But a picture is like a window straight through to your inmost heart.

There are many reasons why novelists write, but they all have one thing in common - a need to create an alternative world.

Liking other people is an illusion we have to cherish in ourselves if we are to live in society.

I was too green to know that all cynicism masks a failure to cope - an impotence, in short; and that to despise all effort is the greatest effort of all.

Most marriages recognize this paradox: Passion destroys passion; we want what puts an end to wanting what we want.

There are only two races on this planet - the intelligent and the stupid.

She's always looking for poetry and passion and sensitivity, the whole Romantic kitchen. I live on a rather simpler diet.' 'Prose and pudding?''I don't expect attractive men necessarily to have attractive souls.