Tolkien seems to me reactionary, conservative, fearful of a modern world. Fearful of anything that isn't sanctioned by the passage of long eons of time. I think what I'm doing in His Dark Materials is politically the reverse of that.

Iorek Byrnison: Can is not the same as must. Lyra Silvertongue: But if you must and you can, then there's no excuse.

I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God.... My books are about killing God.

Just sort of relax your mind and say yes, it does hurt, I know. Don't try and shut it out.

From what we are, spirit; from what we do, matter. Matter and spirit are one.

Disney is a huge presence when it comes to fairy tales because he’s made of them such brilliant artifacts in terms of movie-making. But it’s very hard to ignore what he’s done to them. I'm not interested in denigrating Disney or even commenting on him very much. I'm more interested in seeing what I can do with the stories myself.

Once upon a time' lasts forever.