I know that we shall meet problems along the way, but I'd far rather see for myself what's going on in the world outside, than rely on newspapers, television, politicians and religious leaders to tell me what I should be thinking.

I saw novelists as being admirable people and I thought... I thought... maybe, one day, I could be one of them.

Somewhere, a long way away, people are doing sensible things like mowing lawns and digging gardens.

I've never particularly liked travelling with large groups or being told where to go by somebody else. I prefer to find out for myself.

If atheists are deaf to the word of God, then theists are blind to the ways of man.

There are many ways of seeing the world. You can hang upside down from a meteor, volunteer to be the fourth stage of a three-stage rocket, or simply get in a balloon and keep going. But if it's sheer, unadulterated discomfort you're looking for, just stay on land.

Despite having seen a fair amount of the world, I still love travelling - I just have an insatiable curiosity and like looking out of a window.