I prefer reading to writing. Reading changes your world view. Writing changes absolutely nothing. Except, of course, when it makes you rich.

Now abideth beauty, truth, and intensity; but the greatest of these is intensity.

The great advantage of a novel is you can put in whatever comes into your head - it has the same shape as the human brain.

When we think about the present, we veer wildly between the belief in chance and the evidence in favour of determinism. When we think about the past, however, it seems obvious that everything happened in the way that it was intended.

When you read the Koran, you give up. At least the Bible is very beautiful because Jews have an extraordinary literary talent.

Irony won't save you from anything; humour doesn't do anything at all. You can look at life ironically for years, maybe decades; there are people who seem to go through most of their lives seeing the funny side, but in the end, life always breaks your heart. Doesn't matter how brave you are, or how reserved, or how much you've developed a sense of humour, you still end up with your heart broken. That's when you stop laughing.

Islam is a dangerous religion.