What do you think dignity's all about?' The directness of the inquiry did, I admit, take me rather by surprise. 'It's rather a hard thing to explain in a few words, sir,' I said. 'But I suspect it comes down to not removing one's clothing in public.

You're always in a rush, or else you're too exhausted to have a proper conversation. Soon enough, the long hours, the traveling, the broken sleep have all crept into your being and become part of you, so everyone can see it, in your posture, your gaze, the way you move and talk.

I can't even say I made my own mistakes. Really - one has to ask oneself - what dignity is there in that?

I think it's quite difficult to understand what kind of life a writer leads. They might be millionaires, or they might be starving people.

If you are under the impression you have already perfected yourself, you will never rise to the heights you are no doubt capable of.

All children have to be deceived if they are to grow up without trauma.

I think I had actually served my apprenticeship as a writer of fiction by writing all those songs. I had already been through phases of autobiographical or experimental stuff.