In the hands of politicians grand designs achieve nothing but new forms of the old misery.

It's part of a writer's profession, as it's part of a spy's profession, to prey on the community to which he's attached, to take away information - often in secret - and to translate that into intelligence for his masters, whether it's his readership or his spy masters. And I think that both professions are perhaps rather lonely.

Every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather be credible than authentic.

A good writer is an expert on nothing except himself. And on that subject, if he is wise, he holds his tongue.

As our Governments spin, lie and lose their credibility, the electorate simply shrugs and looks the other way.

I was quite able at the insignificant work I did in MI6, but absolutely dysfunctional in my domestic life. I had no experience of fatherhood. I had no example of marital bliss or the family unit.

But there is a big difference in working for the West and working for a totalitarian state.