One of the great benefits of organised religion is that you can be forgiven your sins, which must be a wonderful thing. I mean, I carry my sins around with me, there's nobody there to forgive them.

Laziness has become the chief characteristic of journalism, displacing incompetence.

Whatever part drink may play in the writer's life, it must play none in his or her work.

Yevgeny Yevtushenko: 'You atheist?' "Kingsley Amis: 'Well, yes, but it's more that I hate him.

A bad review may spoil your breakfast, but you shouldn't allow it to spoil your lunch.

I am always incorrigibly interested in the behaviour of the 'human animal', and look forward to perusing divers effusions of your lively pen.

More always means worse.