...a society without jaywalkers might indicate a society without artists.

An island is a fixed and finite piece of geography, and usually the whole place has been carved up and claimed.

There are probably more annoying things than being hectored about African development by a wealthy Irish rock star in a cowboy hat, but I can't think of one at the moment.

Even if I were traveling with you, your trip would not be mine.

Luxury is the enemy of observation, a costly indulgence that induces such a good feeling that you notice nothing. Luxury spoils and infantilizes you and prevents you from knowing the world.

Mark Twain was a great traveler and he wrote three or four great travel books. I wouldn't say that I'm a travel novelist but rather a novelist who travels - and who uses travel as a background for finding stories of places.

Writing is pretty crummy on the nerves.