If people have bought something of mine, they know by now that I will decline writing it for the movies

I was in New York. Hitchcock was in California. He rang me to make a report on his progress and said, I'm having trouble. I've just sacked my second screenwriter

I have Graham Greene's telephone number, but I wouldn't dream of using it. I don't seek out writers because we all want to be alone.

In view of the fact that I surround myself with numbskulls now, I shall die among numbskulls, and on my deathbed shall be surrounded by numbskulls who will not understand what I am saying ... Whom am I sleeping with these days ? Franz Kafka.

For neither life nor nature cares if justice is ever done or not.

My imagination functions much better when I don't have to speak to people.

Each book is, in a sense, an argument with myself, and I would write it, whether it is ever published or not.